The Survivors of the Chancellor · Chapter
XL explained
The survivors on the raft endure extreme hunger and desperation, resorting to gnawing leather and other animal matter.
What happens
The survivors on the raft endure extreme hunger and desperation, resorting to gnawing leather and other animal matter. Lieutenant Walter dies despite the care of the narrator and Miss Herbey, leaving behind his mother's letter.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Sacrifice
The survivors resort to gnawing leather and other animal matter to stave off starvation, highlighting the extreme lengths taken for survival.
Hope and Despair
The narrator questions whether greater agonies await, reflecting the oscillation between hope and despair amidst ongoing suffering.
Characters to notice
- Owen
Released from restraint due to his deplorable state from salt water exposure.
- Sandon
Suffering from severe smarting caused by salt water.
- Burke
Also suffering from the severe smarting caused by salt water.
- Hobart
Suspected of having a secret store of food; did not partake in the leather gnawing.
- Walter
Dies in the narrator's arms after thanking Miss Herbey and the narrator for their kindness.
Key passages
“Instantly we all followed his example; a leather hat, the rims of caps, in short, anything that contained any animal matter at all, were gnawed and sucked with the utmost avidity.”
Everyone immediately copied him, chewing and sucking on any leather or animal-based material they could find.
Describes the desperate hunger-driven behavior of the group.
“I placed the letter in his cold hand, and raised it to his lips; his eye lighted for a moment; we heard the faint sound of a kiss, and all was over!”
I put the letter in his cold hand and lifted it to his mouth; his eyes briefly brightened, we heard a faint kiss, and then he died.
Depicts the poignant final moments of Lieutenant Walter's life.