The Uncalled · Chapter
XIII explained
Fred Brent struggles with the burdens of his pastoral role in Dexter, finding solace in study and work.
What happens
Fred Brent struggles with the burdens of his pastoral role in Dexter, finding solace in study and work. He becomes engaged to Elizabeth Simpson, and the couple plans to marry at the end of his first pastoral year. However, when a scandal involving Sophy Davis arises, Mr. Simpson pressures Brent to publicly shame her from the pulpit. Brent refuses, leading to a heated confrontation. Mr. Simpson retaliates by calling a church meeting, during which he implies Brent may be shielding the girl for improper reasons. Brent erupts in anger, threatening violence in the church.
Themes in this chapter
Repression and Authenticity
Brent feels the repression of his pastoral role, struggling to maintain an unruffled countenance while inwardly driven to madness by the dead level of his life.
Hypocrisy and Religion
Mr. Simpson uses religion as a tool for public shaming and personal vendetta, while Brent insists on preaching the beauty of good rather than the ugliness of evil.
Community and Gossip
The scandal surrounding Sophy Davis fuels gossip throughout Dexter, and Mr. Simpson attempts to weaponize it within the church.
Characters to notice
- Fred Brent
Struggles with the repression of his pastoral role, finds relief in study, and becomes engaged to Elizabeth. He refuses to publicly shame Sophy Davis, leading to a confrontation with Mr. Simpson.
- Eliphalet Hodges
Waxes buoyant and contented as Fred seems more settled; attends the church meeting and is surprised by the proceedings.
- Mrs. Hester Hodges
Grows more primly genial as her ambitions are satisfied by Fred's apparent contentment.
- Elizabeth Simpson
Engaged to Fred; after the confrontation with Mr. Simpson, she is absent from their usual Sunday walk home, suggesting she believed ill of him.
- Mr. Simpson
Pressures Brent to publicly shame Sophy Davis, threatens to remove him from the pulpit, and calls a church meeting to investigate Brent's refusal.
- Sophy Davis
Subject of community gossip after her disappearance; Brent refuses to hold her up as a warning from the pulpit.
Key passages
“I am fairly harnessed now, and at work, and, although the pulling is somewhat hard, I know my way. It is wonderful how soon a man falls into the cant of his position and learns to dole out the cut-and-dried phrases of ministerial talk like a sort of spiritual phonograph.”
Brent writes to Taylor that he is settled into his role, though the work is difficult; he notes how quickly a minister adopts the routine language of the profession, becoming like a spiritual recording machine.
Brent reflects on the mechanical nature of ministerial duties and his adaptation to the role.
“I do not need to kick a falling girl to find examples to warn people from sin; and as for duty, I think that each man best knows his own.”
Brent tells Mr. Simpson that he does not need to publicly shame a vulnerable girl to teach about sin, and that each person must determine their own duty.
Brent defends his refusal to use Sophy Davis as a warning, asserting his own moral judgment over Simpson's demands.
“Be careful, Frederick Brent. I gave you that pulpit, and I can take it away—I that know who you are and what you come from.”
Mr. Simpson threatens Brent by reminding him that he was responsible for Brent's position and can remove him, implying knowledge of Brent's past.
Simpson leverages his influence and knowledge of Brent's origins to intimidate him.