The Walls of Jericho · Chapter
Chapter XXV explained
A week after the fire at Merrit's house, Miss Agatha Cramp remains in bed, still shaken by the ordeal.
What happens
A week after the fire at Merrit's house, Miss Agatha Cramp remains in bed, still shaken by the ordeal. She discusses the event with her new Irish maid, Mary, revealing her prejudiced views on race and her misguided attempts to help the Irish cause, which she misunderstands.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Self-Deception
Miss Cramp's accusations against Merrit highlight themes of racial identity and the deception inherent in passing.
Secrets and Revelation
The chapter reveals Miss Cramp's secret prejudices and her misinterpretation of events, while the fire's cause remains a hidden truth.
Characters to notice
- Miss Agatha Cramp
Still recovering from the shock of the fire, she reveals her racial prejudices and misguided charitable intentions toward the Irish.
- Fred Merrit
Discussed by Miss Cramp, who accuses him of deceit for passing as white, reflecting the racial tensions surrounding the fire.
Key passages
“It was simply poetic justice, that’s all.”
Miss Cramp believes the burning of Merrit's house was a deserved punishment for his deceit.
Her comment reveals her biased perspective on the arson.
“Now there is something I can’t understand—how a Spaniard—he is a Spaniard isn’t he—how a Spaniard could become a native son of Ireland?”
Miss Cramp is confused about how De Valera, whom she thinks is Spanish, could be considered Irish.
This shows her ignorance and misguided views on Irish politics.