The Wonderful Visit · Chapter
XII: At the Vicarage (Continued) explained
The Angel is dressed in the Vicar's clothes, which are ill-fitting and painful due to his wings.
What happens
The Angel is dressed in the Vicar's clothes, which are ill-fitting and painful due to his wings. He explores the Vicarage with childlike curiosity, learning about earthly customs like tea-drinking and chairs. The Angel is horrified to learn that the Vicar killed and stuffed a kingfisher, leading to a profound discussion about death and killing.
Themes in this chapter
Innocence vs. Experience
The Angel's innocent perspective contrasts with the Vicar's worldly habits, such as killing birds for collection.
The Fragility of Wonder
The Angel's wonder at earthly objects is tempered by his horror at the Vicar's casual violence, showing how wonder can be shattered by harsh realities.
Characters to notice
- The Angel
Dressed in the Vicar's clothes, he finds earthly customs grotesque yet delightful, and is horrified by the Vicar's killing of a kingfisher.
- The Vicar
Attempts to teach the Angel about human customs and explains his collection of stuffed birds, causing the Angel distress.
- Mrs. Hinijer
The Vicar's housekeeper, who brings tea and views the Angel suspiciously as a 'queer customer.'
- Grummet
Sent by the Vicar to fetch Doctor Crump.
- Doctor Crump
Mentioned as being summoned to attend to the Angel's bandages.
Key passages
“What a mess it is! What a dear grotesque ugly world you live in!”
The Angel finds the human world messy and ugly but also charmingly grotesque.
Highlights the Angel's alien perspective on human customs.
“A beautiful bird like that! Because the fancy took you. You wanted the specimen!”
The Angel is shocked that the Vicar killed a beautiful bird simply for the sake of collecting it.
Emphasizes the theme of innocence versus experience and the Angel's moral confusion.