The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen · Chapter
XXXII explained
The Baron rallies his company to continue the pursuit of Wauwau.
What happens
The Baron rallies his company to continue the pursuit of Wauwau. He is captured by savages, scalped, and tied to a stake, but escapes, kills the savages, and heals his scalp. He travels overland through North America to the castle of the Nareskin Rowskimowmowsky, where they feast and then ride to the kingdom of Loggerheads. A quarrel leads to a battle, and the Baron fights the Nareskin in single combat, sparing his life. The expedition continues to the Friendly Islands, where the Baron speaks with Omai, then travels from Otaheite to the isthmus of Darien, cuts a canal across it, and returns to England, finding Wauwau at the starting point.
Themes in this chapter
Adventure and Exploration
The Baron leads an expedition through unknown American forests, encounters savages, and travels to remote lands.
Self-Aggrandizement and Heroism
The Baron boasts of his leadership, escapes captivity, and defeats the Nareskin in single combat, sparing his life.
The Marvelous and the Absurd
The Baron heals his scalp with tree glue, rides hobby horses, and cuts a canal across the isthmus of Darien.
Characters to notice
- Baron Munchausen
Harangues the company, leads the pursuit, is captured and scalped, escapes, fights the Nareskin in single combat, and returns to England.
- Hilaro Frosticos
Part of the expedition, questions the Nareskin about Wauwau, and fights in the battle.
- Don Quixote
Mentioned as part of the embassy and fights alongside the Baron's company.
- Lord Whittington
Part of the embassy and joins the battle against the Nareskin's forces.
- Nareskin Rowskimowmowsky
Governor of the castle, hosts the company, fights the Baron in single combat, and is spared.
- Gog
Acts as a pioneer, hewing trees, and fights in the battle.
- Magog
Acts as a pioneer alongside Gog and fights in the battle.
- Omai
The Baron discourses with Omai at the Friendly Islands.
Key passages
“My friends, and very learned and profound Judiciarii," said I, "be not disheartened that Wauwau has escaped from you at present: persevere, and we shall yet succeed.”
The Baron encourages his companions not to lose hope despite Wauwau's escape, promising eventual success.
The Baron's rallying speech to continue the pursuit.
“The pain of losing the flesh from my head was most horrible; it made me leap in agonies, and roar like a bull.”
The Baron describes the excruciating pain of being scalped.
Vivid description of the Baron's suffering during captivity.
“I drew my sword, and challenged the Nareskin to single combat.”
The Baron challenges the Nareskin to a duel.
Climactic single combat between the Baron and the Nareskin.
“Thus having wedded the Atlantic Ocean to the South Sea, I returned to England, and found Wauwau precisely in the very spot whence she had set out, after having led us a chase all round the world.”
After cutting a canal linking the Atlantic and South Sea, the Baron returns to England and finds Wauwau at her starting point.
The Baron's grand engineering feat and the anticlimactic end of the chase.
