The Uncalled · Chapter
XVII explained
The town of Dexter continues to gossip about Tom Brent's return and death, and Fred's disappearance.
What happens
The town of Dexter continues to gossip about Tom Brent's return and death, and Fred's disappearance. Eliphalet and Hester Hodges receive letters from Fred, who has found work in Cincinnati and is growing happier and more fulfilled. He announces his engagement to Alice, a girl who helps him become his true self. Eliphalet travels to Cincinnati to meet Alice and sees a transformed Fred, who has found a broader, more authentic faith and love.
Themes in this chapter
Repression and Authenticity
Fred's letters and conversation reveal his escape from Dexter's repressive religious atmosphere and his growth into a more authentic, happy self.
Community and Gossip
The chapter highlights how Dexter's residents obsess over Tom Brent's and Fred's stories, and the Hodges' struggle to keep Fred's news private.
Love and Control
Fred's relationship with Alice is portrayed as freeing and nurturing, contrasting with his earlier, more constrained feelings for Elizabeth.
Characters to notice
- Eliphalet Hodges
Receives Fred's letters, defends him against gossip, and travels to Cincinnati to meet Fred and Alice.
- Mrs. Hester Hodges
Reluctant to keep Fred's whereabouts secret, but respects his wishes; refuses to travel, worried about new experiences.
- Fred Brent
Has found work in Cincinnati, grown happier and more self-aware, engaged to Alice, and redefines his faith.
- Alice
Fred's fiancée, described as a sensible and kind girl who helps Fred be happy and brings out the best in him.
- Tom Brent
His return, changed life, and death are still being discussed in Dexter.
- Daniel Hastings
Gossips about Fred, suggesting he is going to the dogs.
Key passages
“I have learned to know what pleasure is, and it has been like a stimulant to me. I have been given a greater chance to love, and it has been like the breath of life to me.”
Fred writes that experiencing pleasure has invigorated him, and that loving someone has felt essential to his existence.
Fred's letter to Eliphalet expresses his newfound appreciation for joy and love.
“I did not love Elizabeth. I know it now.”
Fred admits in a postscript that his feelings for Elizabeth were not true love.
Fred's realization about his past relationship with Elizabeth.
“It's to get bigger and broader and kinder, and to live and to love and be happy, so that people around you will be happy.”
Fred tells Eliphalet that true religion means becoming more expansive, compassionate, and joyful, spreading happiness to others.
Fred redefines religion in personal, humanistic terms.