# Our First Night Under Canvas explained — Three Men in a Boat > Chapter companion for Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome. ## What happens The friends struggle to set up their tent on the boat after a long day of rowing, eventually succeeding and enjoying a well-earned supper. The chapter reflects on the contentment brought by a full stomach and includes a humorous anecdote about George's father getting into the wrong bed. ## Themes in this chapter ### Humor and Absurdity The struggle with the tent canvas and the mistaken bed story provide comedic relief. ### Simplicity vs. Complexity The simple task of setting up a tent becomes a complex, chaotic ordeal. ### Work vs. Laziness The friends prioritize supper and rest over the picturesque scenery, and the chapter contrasts the effort of camping with the desire for ease. ## Character check-ins ### J. Narrates the chapter, participates in setting up the tent and enjoys supper. ### George Suggests setting up the tent first, gets tangled in the canvas, and later tells a funny story about his father. ### Harris Struggles with the tent canvas, gets rolled up in it, and later apologizes for stepping on George's corn. ### Montmorency Waits patiently with J. during the tent struggle and later shows contentment after supper. ## Key lines > That is the only way to get a kettle to boil up the river. If it sees that you are waiting for it and are anxious, it will never even sing. The narrator humorously suggests that ignoring a kettle makes it boil faster. _Reflects the theme of humor and absurdity._ > How good one feels when one is full—how satisfied with ourselves and with the world! The narrator extols the virtues of a full stomach over a clear conscience. _Highlights the theme of simplicity vs. complexity._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/three_men_in_a_boat_se/chapters/x - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/three_men_in_a_boat_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/three_men_in_a_boat_se/chapters