The Old Wives’ Tale · Chapter
Elephant explained
During the Bursley Wakes, Constance eagerly invites Sophia to see a dead elephant that has caused a sensation in town.
What happens
During the Bursley Wakes, Constance eagerly invites Sophia to see a dead elephant that has caused a sensation in town. Sophia initially refuses, but after Mrs. Baines and Constance go with Samuel Povey, she regrets her decision. While watching from the window, she spots a young man—Gerald Scales—and is deeply flustered. She rushes to the shop to encounter him, and they speak briefly, rekindling her fascination.
Themes in this chapter
Provincial Life vs. Worldly Experience
The chapter contrasts the insular, respectable Baines household with the raw, carnivalesque energy of the Wakes and the allure of the outside world represented by Gerald Scales.
Female Identity and Independence
Sophia's refusal to wear an apron and her disdain for domestic duties highlight her struggle for autonomy, while her intense reaction to Gerald Scales signals a burgeoning romantic independence.
Characters to notice
- Sophia Baines
Initially disdainful of the elephant, she later regrets missing the excitement and is flustered by the arrival of Gerald Scales.
- Constance Baines
Eager to see the elephant, she persuades her mother and Mr. Povey to accompany her.
- Mrs. Baines
Succumbs to the social pull of the dead elephant and goes to see it with Constance and Mr. Povey.
- Samuel Povey
Insists on accompanying Mrs. Baines and Constance to the elephant, citing the roughness of the crowd.
- Gerald Scales
A commercial traveller for Birkinshaws who arrives during the Wakes and speaks with Sophia in the shop.
- Mr. Baines
Lies asleep in his sickroom, largely oblivious to the excitement outside.
Key passages
“Sophia, will you come and see the elephant? Do come!”
Constance excitedly invites Sophia to view the dead elephant.
This sets up the central tension of the chapter: Sophia's initial refusal versus her later regret.
“She flushed. She had evidently been startled by the sight of this young man into no ordinary state of commotion.”
Sophia blushes deeply upon seeing Gerald Scales, indicating strong emotional disturbance.
Highlights Sophia's romantic awakening and the impact of Gerald's arrival.
“It was a divine release for Sophia.”
Sophia feels relieved when the shop assistant gives her an excuse to turn around and face Gerald.
Shows her internal conflict between shyness and desire for connection.