The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle · Chapter
The Shellfish Riddle Solved at Last explained
Doctor Dolittle, now king, sits on the shore and works with porpoises, a sea-urchin, and a starfish to communicate with the Great Snail.
What happens
Doctor Dolittle, now king, sits on the shore and works with porpoises, a sea-urchin, and a starfish to communicate with the Great Snail. Through a chain of interpreters, he begins to learn the shellfish language. He persuades the snail to come ashore, treats a sprain on its tail, and later discusses taking a holiday with Polynesia.
Themes in this chapter
Communication with Animals
The Doctor uses a chain of interpreters (porpoises, sea-urchin, starfish) to learn the shellfish language and directly speak with the Great Snail.
Adventure and Exploration
The Doctor and Tommy explore the sea-shore, engage with exotic sea creatures, and solve the riddle of the shellfish language, leading to a new discovery.
Characters to notice
- Doctor Dolittle
Sits on the shore like King Knut, communicates with the snail via interpreters, treats the snail's sprained tail, and considers taking a holiday.
- Tommy Stubbins
Accompanies the Doctor in the canoe, fetches the medicine-bag and sheets for bandages, and observes the conversation with the snail.
- Polynesia
Whispers advice to Tommy to keep quiet, helps tear sheets into bandages, and urges the Doctor to take a holiday incognito.
- Bumpo Kahbooboo
Mentioned as a candidate to sit up with the snail all night, having been napping in the summerhouse.
Key passages
“So Doctor Dolittle with a crown on his head sat down upon the shore like King Knut, and waited.”
Wearing his crown, Doctor Dolittle sat on the beach like the legendary King Knut and waited patiently.
Establishes the Doctor's royal status and his patient, determined approach to solving the language problem.
“And after a little patient examination we found to our delight that he could speak shellfish moderately well.”
After careful testing, we were thrilled to discover that the starfish could speak the shellfish language fairly well.
Highlights the breakthrough in communication that allows the Doctor to proceed with learning the language.
“But just the same, he was frightfully popular. Everybody liked him—even the golden-carp in the fishpond at Hampton Court.”
Nevertheless, he was extremely popular; even the golden carp in the Hampton Court fishpond liked him.
Polynesia uses King Charles's popularity to argue that the Doctor, as king, can also take a holiday and still be liked.