The Uncalled · Chapter
VII explained
At a school picnic, Fred Brent heroically saves Elizabeth Simpson from drowning in a swollen stream, an act that awakens him to his own feelings of love.
What happens
At a school picnic, Fred Brent heroically saves Elizabeth Simpson from drowning in a swollen stream, an act that awakens him to his own feelings of love. He flees the crowd in confusion and returns home, where Miss Prime scolds him but shows affection. The chapter also depicts Miss Prime and Rev. Simpson conspiring to bring Fred to religious conversion, which he resists until revival meetings force him to 'get religion.' Fred's love for Elizabeth grows, and he experiences a profound emotional and sexual awakening.
Themes in this chapter
Repression and Authenticity
Fred's upbringing has taught him to repress any talk of girls or feelings; his rescue of Elizabeth triggers a powerful emotional and sexual awakening that he cannot understand or express, leading to shame and flight.
Love and Control
Miss Prime and Rev. Simpson attempt to control Fred's spiritual and emotional life through religious pressure, while Fred's love for Elizabeth offers a counterforce of genuine feeling and personal growth.
Hypocrisy and Religion
The religious figures manipulate Fred into performing conversion for social conformity, while Fred's authentic inner life—his love and awakening—is suppressed by the very piety they enforce.
Characters to notice
- Fred Brent
Heroically saves Elizabeth from drowning, then flees in confusion; experiences emotional and sexual awakening; resists religious pressure but eventually conforms.
- Elizabeth Simpson
Nearly drowns at the picnic; rescued by Fred; her weakness and dependence on Fred deepen his feelings for her.
- Miss Hester Prime
Scolds Fred for ruining his suit but shows affection; conspires with Rev. Simpson to bring Fred to religion; feels possessive of Fred's spiritual progress.
- Mr. Simpson
Elizabeth's father; grateful for her rescue; collaborates with Miss Prime to pressure Fred into religious conversion.
- Eliphalet Hodges
Present at the picnic with his horse Bess; part of the community gathering.
Key passages
“He began for the first time to really know himself, and it frightened him and made him ashamed. He drew the covers over his head and lay awake, startled, surprised at what he knew himself and mankind to be. To Fred Brent the awakening had come—early, if we would be prudish; not too early, if we would be truthful.”
Fred's rescue of Elizabeth forces him to confront his own emerging sexuality and emotional depth, a revelation that both terrifies and shames him, marking a pivotal moment of self-awareness.
This passage captures the central theme of sexual and emotional awakening, challenging the prudishness of the era.
“If he had thrown the girl in instead of bringing her out, he could not have fled more swiftly or determinedly away from the eyes of people.”
Fred's urgent escape from the crowd after the rescue shows his intense discomfort with the attention and his own feelings, as if he were guilty of a crime.
Highlights Fred's internal conflict and the repression that makes him flee from recognition.
“When they were together and some girlish fear made her cling to his arm, his heart swelled with pride and a something else that he could not understand and could not have described.”
Fred feels both pride and an inexplicable deeper emotion when Elizabeth depends on him, signaling the onset of romantic love.
Illustrates the early, inarticulate stages of love, consistent with the theme of repression.