The Water-Babies · Chapter
V explained
Tom, now a water-baby, rescues a lobster from a trap, encounters an otter, and is later punished by Mrs.
What happens
Tom, now a water-baby, rescues a lobster from a trap, encounters an otter, and is later punished by Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid for stealing candy. He then meets Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby, who cares for the water-babies, and learns about the importance of being good. The chapter also describes the water-babies' home on St. Brandan's fairy isle.
Themes in this chapter
Moral Education and Redemption
Tom is punished for stealing candy and learns to be good, reflecting the theme of moral growth.
Nature and the Environment
The water-babies tend to rock-pools and clean the shore, emphasizing care for nature.
Childhood Innocence and Growth
Tom's interactions with the water-babies and his learning experiences highlight childhood development.
Characters to notice
- Tom
Tom rescues a lobster from a trap, is punished by Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid for stealing candy, and is cared for by Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby.
- Mr. Lobster
The lobster is trapped in a pot and rescued by Tom; he later helps fight off the otter.
- Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid
She punishes Tom for stealing candy by giving him prickles, and explains her role in punishing wrongdoers.
- Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby
She appears on Sunday, cares for the water-babies, and tells them stories.
- St. Brandan
Mentioned as the discoverer of the fairy isle where the water-babies live.
Key passages
“But what became of little Tom? He slipped away off the rocks into the water, as I said before.”
Tom, now a water-baby, continues his adventures underwater.
Transition from previous chapter to Tom's underwater life.
“I only punish them till they become patient, and learn to use their common sense like reasonable beings.”
Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid punishes only until the wrongdoer learns patience and common sense.
Explanation of the fairy's disciplinary philosophy.
“And this is the reason why the rock-pools are always so neat and clean; because the water-babies come inshore after every storm to sweep them out, and comb them down, and put them all to rights again.”
Water-babies maintain the cleanliness of rock-pools after storms.
Etiological explanation for tidy rock-pools.