Tracks in the Snow · Chapter
VI explained
The narrator recounts Trethewy's confession of harboring murderous intent towards Peters, though he claims he never acted on it.
What happens
The narrator recounts Trethewy's confession of harboring murderous intent towards Peters, though he claims he never acted on it. The narrator struggles to interpret the sincerity of Trethewy's religious and psychological turmoil. Meanwhile, two cryptic letters from Charles Bryanston arrive for Peters, the second revealing that Longhurst survived a shipwreck.
Themes in this chapter
Guilt and Innocence
Trethewy's confession of intent but denial of action raises questions about moral versus legal guilt.
The Past and Secrets
Trethewy's hidden thoughts and the cryptic letters from Bryanston reveal buried truths.
Memory and Perception
The narrator struggles to interpret Trethewy's account, questioning its sincerity and accuracy.
Characters to notice
- Reuben Trethewy
Confesses to having desired Peters' death and struggled with religious guilt, but maintains his innocence of the actual murder.
- James Callaghan
Reported Trethewy's threatening behavior towards Peters to the police.
- Eustace Peters
The murdered man; Trethewy's altercations with him are recounted.
- William Vane-Cartwright
Opened a letter addressed to Peters and passed it to the narrator; later left before the second letter arrived.
- Charles Bryanston
Sent two letters to Peters from Baghdad, the second revealing that Longhurst survived.
- Walter Longhurst
Mentioned in Bryanston's letter as having sailed on the Eleanor and survived.
Key passages
“Self-abasement and self-righteousness, the genuine stuff of Puritan enthusiasm, the adulterated stuff of morbid religiousness, sheer cant, manly straightforwardness, pleasure in the opportunity of preaching and that to the parson—all these things seemed blended together in Trethewy's talk.”
Trethewy's speech mixed genuine religious fervor with hypocrisy and a love of preaching, making it hard to discern his true character.
The narrator reflects on the complexity of Trethewy's confession.
“I am sorry I can tell you nothing about it.— Yours , C. B.”
Bryanston's first letter to Peters was deliberately vague, offering no information.
The first of two letters from Charles Bryanston.
“Longhurst sailed in the Eleanor and she did not go down. To the best of my belief she still sails the seas. I never liked C. — Yours ever , Charles Bryanston.”
Bryanston's second letter reveals that Longhurst survived the voyage of the Eleanor, and expresses dislike for someone identified only as 'C.'
The second letter provides key information about Longhurst's fate.