# VII explained — The Return

> Chapter companion for The Return by Walter de la Mare.

## What happens

Lawford, recovering from influenza, is visited by Mr. Bethany who believes he is improving. Lawford resolves to return to Widderstone to reverse his transformation, but his hope is shaken by his daughter Alice's fearful reaction to his changed face. He experiences a sinister presence while searching for a book on hallucinations.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Transformation

Lawford's struggle with his altered face and his plan to reverse the change at Widderstone.

### Isolation and Alienation

Lawford feels alienated from his family, especially after Alice's fearful reaction.

### Sanity and Madness

Lawford questions his own sanity, considers hallucination and influenza as explanations, and experiences a sinister presence.

## Character check-ins

### Arthur Lawford

Struggles with his changed face and influenza; plans to return to Widderstone; visits Alice at night; searches for Quain's book.

### Sheila

Present during Mr. Bethany's visit; leaves Lawford alone after he wakes.

### Mr. Bethany

Visits Lawford, reports on the wedding, and expresses relief at Lawford's apparent improvement.

### Alicia

Lawford visits her at night; she is frightened by his changed face and a dream.

## Key lines

> But legions of dreams are Influenza’s allies.

Influenza brings with it many dreams.

_Lawford's illness causes vivid and disturbing dreams._

> He realised that Sheila thought him as much of a fool now as she had for the moment thought him an impostor, or something worse, the night before.

Lawford understands that Sheila now considers him foolish, just as she briefly suspected him of being an impostor.

_Lawford reflects on Sheila's perception of him after his strange behavior._

> If the whole mind of a man was bent on being one thing, surely no power on earth, certainly not on earth, could for long compel him to look another, any more (followed the resplendent thought) than vice versa.

If a man is determined to be a certain way, no force can make him appear otherwise, and vice versa.

_Lawford considers the power of will over his appearance._

> Like the shadow of death they had been, against whose darkness the green familiar earth seems beautiful as the plains of paradise.

The recent hours felt like death's shadow, making ordinary life seem heavenly.

_Lawford's near-death experience makes him appreciate life more._

> A cold, indefinite sensation stole over him that he was being watched; that some dim, evil presence was behind him biding its time, patient and stealthy, with eyes fixed unmovingly on him where he stood.

Lawford feels a chilling sense of being watched by a malevolent, waiting presence.

_Lawford experiences a supernatural or psychological threat while searching for a book._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_se/chapters