The Return · Chapter
XII explained
Lawford confesses his fear of insanity to Herbert, who responds with calm skepticism.
What happens
Lawford confesses his fear of insanity to Herbert, who responds with calm skepticism. Herbert reveals that Lawford's changed face resembles an engraving of Nicholas Sabathier, an 18th-century French figure. Herbert theorizes that Sabathier's restless spirit may have possessed Lawford's body during his sleep in the churchyard. Herbert also describes a ghostly figure that searches his room and then fades into the occupant, suggesting a mechanism for spiritual entry and exit.
Themes in this chapter
Sanity and Madness
Lawford fears he is going insane, but Herbert argues that his self-awareness proves otherwise, exploring the boundary between sanity and madness.
The Supernatural and Possession
Herbert theorizes that Sabathier's spirit may have possessed Lawford's body, and describes a ghost that fades into living persons, delving into supernatural possession.
Identity and Transformation
Lawford's face has changed to resemble Sabathier, raising questions about identity and whether he remains himself despite the physical transformation.
Characters to notice
- Arthur Lawford
Confesses his fear of insanity to Herbert; learns his face resembles Sabathier; listens to Herbert's theories about possession and ghostly phenomena.
- Herbert
Reassures Lawford about his sanity; reveals the resemblance to Sabathier; describes a ghost that searches his room and fades into the occupant; theorizes about spiritual possession.
- Grisel
Mentioned by Herbert as having seen the ghost from the garden and coined the phrase 'fades inside'.
- Nicholas Sabathier
His engraving resembles Lawford's changed face; described as a vivid personality who killed himself and may be lingering as a restless spirit.
- Sheila
Mentioned by Lawford as one who noticed the change in his face.
- Sallie
Mentioned as the recipient of shelled peas when Grisel saw the ghost.
Key passages
“I am simply on the verge, if not over it, of insanity.”
Lawford confesses he feels he is going mad.
Lawford's admission of his mental state to Herbert.
“The very fact of your being able to say so seems to me all but proof positive that you’re not.”
Herbert argues that Lawford's awareness of his own sanity proves he is not insane.
Herbert's rational response to Lawford's fear of madness.
“It’s the frontispiece of one of a queer old hotchpotch of pamphlets... All eighteenth century, and all in French.”
Herbert describes an old French pamphlet whose frontispiece shows a face resembling Lawford's.
Herbert reveals the engraving of Sabathier that matches Lawford's changed face.
“He comes, or it comes towards you, first just walking, then with a kind of gradually accelerated slide or glide, and sweeps straight into you... and fades, vanishes, melts, or, as it were, silts inside.”
Herbert describes how the ghost approaches a person and then merges into their body.
Herbert's account of the ghost's behavior in his room.