The Story of Doctor Dolittle · Chapter
The Fisherman's Town explained
Doctor Dolittle and Jip rescue a red-haired fisherman stranded on a rock, reunite him with his sister and nephew, and are celebrated by the townspeople.
What happens
Doctor Dolittle and Jip rescue a red-haired fisherman stranded on a rock, reunite him with his sister and nephew, and are celebrated by the townspeople. The Mayor presents the Doctor with a diamond-studded watch and Jip with a golden collar inscribed 'The Cleverest Dog in the World' before they sail back to Puddleby.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Loyalty
Jip's determination to find the fisherman demonstrates loyalty to the Doctor and the rescued boy's family.
Compassion and Healing
The Doctor gently wakes the starving fisherman and provides soup, showing care for a stranger in distress.
Characters to notice
- Doctor Dolittle
Wakes the fisherman gently, accepts the town's gratitude and gifts, and prepares to return home.
- Jip
Finds the fisherman by scent, receives a golden collar from the Mayor, and is praised as the cleverest dog.
- Dab-Dab
Finds Jip in a stable-yard when the Mayor asks for the dog.
- Gub-Gub
Mentioned by Jip as an alternative target for the sister's kisses.
Key passages
“Gently then—very gently, the Doctor woke the man up. But just at that moment the match went out again. And the man thought it was Ben Ali coming back, and he began to punch the Doctor in the dark.”
The Doctor carefully roused the fisherman, but when the match died, the man mistook him for Ben Ali and started hitting him blindly.
Shows the Doctor's gentle nature and the fisherman's fear of the pirate.
“And Jip was awfully proud of himself—though he tried hard not to look conceited. When Dab-Dab came to him and said, 'Jip, I had no idea you were so clever!' he just tossed his head and answered, 'Oh, that's nothing special. But it takes a dog to find a man, you know. Birds are no good for a game like that.'”
Jip felt very proud but tried to act modest, telling Dab-Dab that dogs are better than birds at tracking people.
Highlights Jip's cleverness and mild arrogance.
“And she kissed the Doctor many times, so that he giggled and blushed like a schoolgirl. And she tried to kiss Jip too; but he ran away and hid inside the ship. 'It's a silly business, this kissing,' he said. 'I don't hold by it. Let her go and kiss Gub-Gub—if she must kiss something.'”
The boy's mother kissed the Doctor repeatedly, making him embarrassed, while Jip fled from her affection and suggested she kiss Gub-Gub instead.
Shows the Doctor's bashfulness and Jip's disdain for physical affection.