# Chapter XI explained — The Nebuly Coat

> Chapter companion for The Nebuly Coat by John Meade Falkner.

## What happens

The new Bishop of Carisbury, Dr. Willis, plans to hold a confirmation at Cullerne Minster and will lunch with Mr. Sharnall. Canon Parkyn and Mrs. Parkyn discuss the impropriety of the Bishop dining with the organist, and the Canon eventually offers to host the lunch. Meanwhile, Mr. Sharnall becomes increasingly possessive of Martin Joliffe's papers, which he had been studying with Westray, and Miss Euphemia Joliffe worries that the papers will bring misfortune.

## Themes in this chapter

### Religion and Hypocrisy

Canon Parkyn and Mrs. Parkyn's concern over the Bishop lunching with Sharnall reveals social snobbery and hypocrisy masked as concern for propriety.

### Obsession and Madness

Sharnall's growing secretiveness over Martin Joliffe's papers and Miss Euphemia's fear that the papers will 'bewitch' the gentlemen echo the theme of obsessive pursuit.

### Secrecy and Identity

The hidden papers and the mystery of the Blandamer peerage claim continue to drive the plot, with Sharnall now guarding the documents jealously.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Sharnall

Is visited by the Bishop of Carisbury and becomes secretive about Martin Joliffe's papers.

### Canon Parkyn

Is perturbed by the Bishop's plan to lunch with Sharnall and offers to host the lunch at the Rectory.

### Mrs. Parkyn

Expresses disapproval of the Bishop lunching with Sharnall and criticizes Sharnall's household.

### Mr. Westray

Notices Sharnall's change in attitude regarding Martin Joliffe's papers and ceases to examine them.

### Miss Euphemia Joliffe

Worries that Martin Joliffe's papers will bring misfortune and regrets giving them to Sharnall.

### Miss Anastasia Joliffe

Laughs at the idea of a claim to the Blandamer peerage and rallies both Sharnall and Westray.

## Key lines

> The fact of being selected as the entertainer of the Bishop of Carisbury invested Mr. Sharnall in the Rector’s eyes with a distinction which could not have been possibly attained by mere intellect or technical skill or devoted drudgery.

Canon Parkyn suddenly saw Sharnall as important simply because the Bishop chose to dine with him, a status that no amount of talent or hard work could have earned.

_Highlights the hypocrisy and social climbing of the clergy._

> I believe that trying to discover things is generally bad for man. If it is good for us to be noblemen and rich, then Providence will bring us to that station; but to try to prove one's self a nobleman is like stargazing and fortune-telling.

Miss Euphemia thinks that searching for hidden truths is harmful, and that if God wanted someone to be wealthy or noble, He would make it happen without human effort.

_Reflects the theme of the past and memory, and the danger of obsessive pursuit._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters/xi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters