# XXIII: The Violin explained — The Wonderful Visit

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

## What happens

The Vicar attempts to educate the Angel on Political Economy, but the Angel discovers a violin and plays it with transcendent skill. The Vicar experiences a profound vision of beauty and light, realizing he has never truly heard music before. He gives the violin to the Angel, vowing never to play again.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art, Beauty, and Transcendence

The Angel's violin playing creates a vision of a sublime, spaceless land of beauty, transcending ordinary reality.

### Innocence vs. Experience

The Angel's innocent, untaught artistry contrasts with the Vicar's learned but limited understanding of music.

## Character check-ins

### The Angel

Discovers the violin and plays with extraordinary skill, transporting the Vicar into a vision of beauty.

### The Vicar

Is deeply moved by the Angel's playing, experiences a transcendent vision, and gives up playing the violin.

## Key lines

> The air reminded him of a flame, it rushed up, shone, flickered and danced, passed and reappeared.

The melody evoked the image of a flame, leaping and flickering, disappearing and returning.

_Describes the Vicar's impression of the Angel's music._

> He was in the land of Beauty, and once more the glory of heaven was upon the Angel’s face, and the glowing delights of colour pulsated in his wings.

The Vicar felt transported to a realm of pure beauty, where the Angel's face shone with heavenly glory and his wings radiated vibrant colors.

_Captures the visionary experience induced by the Angel's playing._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wonderful_visit_se/chapters/xxiii-the-violin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wonderful_visit_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_wonderful_visit_se/chapters