# XLVIII: The Last Day of the Visit (Continued) explained — The Wonderful Visit

> Chapter companion for The Wonderful Visit by H. G. Wells.

## What happens

The Angel encounters Sir John Gotch in the woods, who orders him off his property. A violent confrontation ensues, during which the Angel beats Gotch unconscious with a riding whip. The Angel then awakens from his rage, horrified to find Gotch motionless and possibly dead, and flees in panic.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Universality of Suffering

The Angel, having learned about pain, inflicts it violently on Gotch and is then overwhelmed by the horror of causing death.

### Innocence vs. Experience

The Angel's fall from celestial grace into human rage and violence marks a profound loss of innocence.

## Character check-ins

### The Angel

Overcome by wrath, beats Sir John Gotch unconscious, then is horrified by the violence and flees.

### Sir John Gotch

Confronts the Angel in the woods, is brutally beaten and left motionless on the ground.

## Key lines

> suddenly the Angel awakened from his wrath, and found himself standing, panting and trembling, one foot on a motionless figure, under the green stillness of the sunlit woods.

The Angel suddenly came to his senses, standing breathless and shaking with one foot resting on a still body in the quiet, sunlit forest.

_The Angel's violent trance breaks, and he realizes the consequences of his actions._

> He stared about him, then down at his feet where, among the tangled dead leaves, the hair was matted with blood.

He looked around, then down at his feet, seeing blood tangled in the hair among the dead leaves.

_The Angel sees the physical evidence of his brutality._

> A feeling of profound horror descended upon him, wrapped him round about.

An overwhelming sense of horror enveloped him completely.

_The Angel is consumed by dread at what he has done._

> Dead! he said suddenly, and turning, panic stricken, fled headlong through the wood.

He exclaimed 'Dead!' and, seized by panic, ran wildly through the forest.

_Believing he has killed Gotch, the Angel flees in terror._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wonderful_visit_se/chapters/xlviii-the-last-day-of-the-visit-continued
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wonderful_visit_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wonderful_visit_se/chapters