The Voyage Out · Chapter
XXVII explained
A violent storm descends upon the hotel, disrupting dinner and forcing guests to gather in the hall for safety.
What happens
A violent storm descends upon the hotel, disrupting dinner and forcing guests to gather in the hall for safety. After the storm passes, the guests settle into evening activities—chess, knitting, and conversation about their desires and fears of death. St. John Hirst arrives, visibly devastated from the recent tragedy, and is comforted by Mrs. Thornbury. He finds a strange sense of relief and happiness in the warmth and communal voices around him, ceasing to think about Terence and Rachel as he watches the pattern of life build itself up before his eyes.
Themes in this chapter
Death and Mortality
The storm and subsequent conversation about fear of death, dying before discoveries, and St. John's grief highlight the theme of mortality.
Nature and Civilization
The violent storm contrasts with the sheltered hotel; guests seek safety indoors, yet Mrs. Flushing exults in the natural spectacle.
Communication and Silence
St. John's inability to speak, the gaps in conversation during the storm, and the soothing yet wordless comfort of communal presence underscore this theme.
Characters to notice
- St. John Hirst
Arrives after the storm, pale and unshorn, overcome by grief from the recent tragedy; finds solace in the warmth and voices of the group.
- Mrs. Thornbury
Comforts St. John with gentle words and tears, asking about the consolation of the deceased.
- Mrs. Flushing
Exults in the storm, standing outside to watch; later speaks scornfully about fear of death.
- Mr. Wilfrid Flushing
Describes the storm's beauty from the roof; expresses a desire to live a hundred years.
- Mr. Pepper
Plays chess with Mr. Elliot; his move is interrupted by St. John's arrival.
- Hughling Elliot
Wins the chess game against Mr. Pepper, wearing a stock as a sign of convalescence.
- Mrs. Hughling Elliot
Wishes for a child and claims she and her husband have no wants.
- Miss Allan
Mentions the dullness of dying before discovering life on Mars.
Key passages
“The rain seemed now to extinguish the lightning and the thunder, and the hall became almost dark.”
The rain appeared to put out the lightning and thunder, plunging the hall into near darkness.
Describes the storm's climax and the shift in atmosphere.
“He lay back in his chair, half-seeing the others, half-hearing what they said. He was terribly tired, and the light and warmth, the movements of the hands, and the soft communicative voices soothed him; they gave him a strange sense of quiet and relief.”
He reclined in his chair, only partially aware of the people and their words. Exhausted, he found comfort in the warmth, light, and gentle voices, which brought him an unexpected peace.
Captures St. John's emotional state after the tragedy.
“Without any sense of disloyalty to Terence and Rachel he ceased to think about either of them.”
He stopped thinking about Terence and Rachel, feeling no betrayal in doing so.
Highlights St. John's psychological shift toward acceptance and detachment.
