# XVII explained — The Professor’s House

> Chapter companion for The Professor’s House by Willa Cather.

## What happens

Lillian and the Marselluses sail for France in early May, leaving Professor St. Peter alone. He moves back to the old house and spends the summer in his garden, planning to edit Tom Outland's diary. He reflects on Tom's character and his relationship with Lillian, who became jealous of Tom. Tom's past in Washington is hinted at, and he chooses to stay in Hamilton as an instructor rather than go to Johns Hopkins. During a summer alone with Tom, St. Peter finally hears Tom's story.

## Themes in this chapter

### Idealized Friendship and Hero Worship

Tom's idealization of friends and his belief in self-sacrificing friendship are discussed, contrasting with Lillian's skepticism.

### Memory and the Past

Tom's reluctance to discuss his past in Washington and the Professor's reflections on Tom's history highlight the theme of memory.

## Character check-ins

### Professor St. Peter

Alone for the summer, he plans to edit Tom Outland's diary and reflects on Tom's character and his wife's jealousy.

### Tom Outland

His past in Washington is hinted at, and he chooses to stay in Hamilton as an instructor rather than go to Johns Hopkins.

### Lillian St. Peter

Sails to France with the Marselluses; her jealousy of Tom and her changing attitude are recalled.

### Kathleen

Playfully questions Tom about his past, showing her familiarity and affection.

## Key lines

> He idealized the people he loved and paid his devoir to the ideal rather than to the individual, so that his behaviour was sometimes a little too exalted for the circumstances—'chivalry of the cinema,' Lillian used to say.

Tom put his loved ones on a pedestal, acting more out of romantic idealism than practical reality, which Lillian mockingly called 'movie chivalry.'

_This reflects the theme of idealized friendship and the conflict between romanticism and realism._

> It was nothing very incriminating, nothing very remarkable; a story of youthful defeat, the sort of thing a boy is sensitive about—until he grows older.

Tom's story was not shameful or extraordinary, just a tale of a young man's failure that he was sensitive about in his youth.

_This sets the stage for Tom's narrative, emphasizing the theme of memory and the past._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters/xvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_professor_s_house_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_professor_s_house_se/chapters