The Purple Land · Chapter
XX: A Ghastly Gift explained
Richard Lamb, after the defeat, decides to leave his hiding place and ride toward Rocha.
What happens
Richard Lamb, after the defeat, decides to leave his hiding place and ride toward Rocha. He stops at a pulperia for refreshment, where he is recognized by a brutal man named Gandara, who threatens him with a knife. Lamb shoots Gandara dead and escapes, feeling no remorse.
Themes in this chapter
Masculinity and Adventure
Lamb's solitary flight, his calm under threat, and his violent response to Gandara's attack reflect a rugged, adventurous masculinity.
Honor and Revenge
Lamb's lack of remorse and joy at killing Gandara highlight a code of honor where self-defense and retribution are justified.
Characters to notice
- Richard Lamb
Narrator and protagonist; decides to flee to Rocha after defeat, kills Gandara in self-defense.
- Gandara
Murderous-looking gaucho who recognizes Lamb as a rebel and threatens him with a knife; killed by Lamb.
- General Santa Coloma
Mentioned as having advised Lamb to proceed to Rocha in case of defeat.
- Master Mariano
Mentioned as having kindled the fire for maté at dawn.
- Lechuza
Mentioned as having censured Lamb for horse-stealing the previous evening.
Key passages
“I did not like the idea of lying there concealed amongst the trees like some hunted animal for an indefinite time; moreover, I had been advised by Santa Coloma to proceed directly to the Lomas de Rocha, on the south coast, in the event of a defeat, and this now seemed to me the best thing to do.”
Lamb decides to stop hiding and follow Santa Coloma's advice to head for Rocha after the defeat.
Lamb's motivation for leaving his hiding place.
“Quick as lightning a long, broad knife flashed out from its concealment under his poncho, and with one catlike bound he was before me, the point of his horrid weapon touching my poncho just over the pit of my stomach.”
Gandara suddenly draws a knife and threatens Lamb's life.
The moment of attack at the pulperia.
“Straight from my waist, and from under my poncho, I fired. His knife fell ringing on to the floor; he swerved, then fell back, coming to the ground with a heavy thud.”
Lamb shoots Gandara, killing him instantly.
Lamb's self-defense and the killing.
“Joy at the terrible retribution I had been able to inflict on the murderous wretch was the only emotion I experienced when galloping away into the darkness—such joy that I could have sung and shouted aloud had it not seemed imprudent to indulge in such expression of feeling.”
Lamb feels no remorse, only joy at having killed Gandara.
Lamb's emotional response to the killing.