The Swiss Family Robinson · Chapter
Another Trip to the Wreck explained
The father rises early to inspect the vessels and makes a trip to the wreck, returning to find his family still asleep.
What happens
The father rises early to inspect the vessels and makes a trip to the wreck, returning to find his family still asleep. After admonishing Ernest for his laziness, the family unloads the raft and the father, Fritz, and Jack make another voyage to the wreck, where they discover a disassembled pinnace and collect various useful items. On their return, they observe a line of penguins on the shore, leading to a discussion about Gulliver's Travels and the nature of allegory.
Themes in this chapter
Resourcefulness and Industry
The family's industrious trips to the wreck, the discovery of the pinnace, and the collection of useful items highlight their resourcefulness in making the most of their situation.
Education and Moral Instruction
The father uses Ernest's laziness as a teachable moment about diligence and the dangers of indulgence, and later explains allegory through Gulliver's Travels.
Gratitude and Contentment
The mother's contentment with her kitchen garden and the family's appreciation for the new mattress reflect a theme of gratitude for small comforts.
Characters to notice
- Father
Rises early, inspects vessels, makes trips to the wreck, admonishes Ernest for laziness, and discovers the pinnace.
- Fritz
First to dress after being shamed for sleeping late; discovers the pinnace behind the bulkhead.
- Jack
Hovers around and is allowed to join the trip; finds a wheelbarrow and is eager; leaps into the water upon nearing shore.
- Ernest
Last to wake, expresses a love for falling back asleep; is admonished by his father for slothfulness.
- Mother
Wakes late, attributes her deep sleep to the new mattress; is sent back with the younger children.
- Francis
Wakes after Jack, is mentioned as being outdone by Ernest in sloth.
Key passages
“I rose before day to go to the seaside and inspect our two vessels.”
Before dawn, I went to the shore to check on the boat and raft.
Shows the father's early rising and diligence.
“Is it possible, dear boy, said I to him, that at your age you allow even little Francis to get the start of you?”
I asked Ernest how he could let little Francis beat him in getting up.
Highlights the father's concern about Ernest's laziness.
“He who indulges himself in all that flatters his senses, will end by falling a victim to them.”
A person who always gives in to sensory pleasures will eventually be destroyed by them.
Moral admonition against overindulgence.
“I then collected some house utensils and whatever else I thought most useful; such as a large copper boiler, some plates of iron, tobacco graters, two grinding-stones, a small barrel of gunpowder, and another full of flints, which I much valued.”
I gathered household tools and other useful items, including a copper boiler, iron plates, graters, grindstones, and gunpowder with flints.
Illustrates the practical resourcefulness of the family.
“They are of the stupid species; Ernest killed one soon after our arrival. They are excellent swimmers, but cannot fly; and so confused are they when on land, that they run in the silliest way into danger; catching such birds as these, is a fit sport for none but the indolent.”
These penguins are stupid, good swimmers but unable to fly, and so clumsy on land that they run into danger; only lazy people would hunt them.
The father's commentary on the penguins reinforces his views on industry and sloth.
