The White Feather · Chapter
VI: Albert Redivivus explained
Sheen experiences complete social ostracism at school after his transgression, finding himself isolated and ignored by his peers.
What happens
Sheen experiences complete social ostracism at school after his transgression, finding himself isolated and ignored by his peers. He focuses on his studies for the Gotford examination and takes solitary walks for exercise. Meanwhile, the junior students continue their feud with St. Jude's school and the town toughs. Jackson leads an expedition to pelt St. Jude's students with bad oranges, but the skirmish is interrupted by the arrival of Albert and his gang. When Sheen appears on the scene, Albert targets him, and Sheen, driven by a desire to regain his self-respect, fights back but is ultimately beaten to the ground.
Themes in this chapter
Social Ostracism and Peer Pressure
Sheen is completely cut dead by the school, treated as invisible, and isolated from all social interaction.
Bullying and Conflict
The ongoing feud between Wrykyn juniors and St. Jude's, and Albert's violent attack on Sheen.
Self-Discovery and Personal Growth
Sheen's decision to confront Albert in an attempt to restore his self-respect and credit in the house.
Characters to notice
- Sheen
Endures complete social isolation from the school; focuses on studying for the Gotford; attempts to regain self-respect by confronting Albert but is beaten.
- Drummond
Discourages a court-martial against Sheen, threatening to knock the head off any president of such a court.
- Jackson
Leads an expedition of juniors to pelt St. Jude's students with bad oranges; later flees when Albert appears.
- Painter
Participates in the expedition against St. Jude's; loses his cap during the skirmish.
- Tomlin
Helps plan the orange-throwing attack; loses three waistcoat buttons in the fight.
- Albert
Appears with his gang during the junior skirmish; attacks Sheen and beats him to the ground.
Key passages
“By murdering in cold blood a large and respected family, and afterwards depositing their bodies in a reservoir, one may gain, we are told, much unpopularity in the neighbourhood of one's crime; while robbing a church will get one cordially disliked especially by the vicar. But, to be really an outcast, to feel that one has no friend in the world, one must break an important public-school commandment.”
Committing heinous crimes like murder or robbery makes one unpopular, but true ostracism comes only from violating a major public school rule.
Highlights the severity of social punishment in the school context.
“Sheen had always been something of a hermit. In his most sociable moments he had never had more than one or two friends; but he had never before known what it meant to be completely isolated. It was like living in a world of ghosts, or, rather, like being a ghost in a living world.”
Though Sheen was naturally solitary, he had never experienced total isolation; now he feels like a ghost among the living.
Describes Sheen's profound loneliness after being cut dead.
“With all his force Sheen hit out, and experienced a curious thrill as his fist went home. It was a poor blow from a scientific point of view, but Sheen's fives had given him muscle, and it checked Albert.”
Sheen threw a powerful but unscientific punch that momentarily stopped Albert, thanks to the strength he gained from playing fives.
Sheen's attempt to fight back despite his lack of boxing skill.