Epilogue to An Inland Voyage explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Travel and Discovery

  The chapter details the journey through the Loing valley, highlighting the pleasures of solitary travel, the beauty of the weather, and the unexpected encounters that shape the experience.

• Freedom vs. Confinement

  The Arethusa's arrest and imprisonment in a bare cell contrast sharply with the freedom of the open road, illustrating the tension between liberty and bureaucratic control.

• Social Class and Inequality

  The differing treatment of the Arethusa (poorly dressed, suspected) and the Cigarette (elegant, respected) underscores how appearance and class affect one's experience with authority.

Characters to notice

• The Arethusa

  The lean, ill-dressed traveler who carries Charles of Orléans' works, is mistaken for a pornographic peddler and a beggar, and is arrested at Châtillon-sur-Loire.

• The Cigarette

  The more elegant and philosophical companion, who carries a volume of Michelet, is arrested briefly but released due to his respectable appearance and passport.

• Mr. Commissary

  The sleepy, perspiring magistrate at Châtillon-sur-Loire who arrests the Arethusa and is bribed with a volume of Michelet to release him.

Key passages

• “The Arethusa carried in his knapsack the works of Charles of Orléans, and employed some of the hours of travel in the concoction of English roundels.”

  The Arethusa brought a book by Charles of Orléans and spent part of the journey writing English roundels.

  Highlights the artistic and literary pursuits during the journey.

• “The Cigarette walked burdened with a volume of Michelet.”

  The Cigarette carried a book by Michelet as he walked.

  Shows the Cigarette's intellectual companion on the trip.

• “The Arethusa was unwisely dressed. He is no precisian in attire; but by all accounts, he was never so ill-inspired as on that tramp; having set forth indeed, upon a moment’s notice, from the most unfashionable spot in Europe, Barbizon.”

  The Arethusa's clothing was poorly chosen, as he left hastily from Barbizon, a notably unfashionable place.

  Explains the unfortunate appearance that led to suspicion.

• “The postman was still visibly preoccupied, and his eyes were faithful to the Arethusa ’s knapsack. At last, with mysterious roguishness, he inquired what it contained, and on being answered, shook his head with kindly incredulity. “ Non ,” said he, “ non, vous avez des portraits. ””

  The postman kept staring at the Arethusa's knapsack and, with a playful air, asked what was inside. When told, he didn't believe it and insisted there were indecent pictures.

  Illustrates the postman's mistaken assumption about the Arethusa's trade.

• “The hostess, a comely woman, suckling a child, examined the traveller with kindly and pitying eyes. ... when he rose and asked what was to pay, the light came upon him in a flash. “ O, pour vous ,” replied the landlady, “a halfpenny!” Pour vous? By heaven, she took him for a beggar!”

  The landlady, nursing a baby, looked at the Arethusa sympathetically and charged him only a halfpenny, making him realize she thought he was a beggar.

  Shows how the Arethusa's appearance led to being mistaken for a beggar.

• “A polite gendarme threw his shadow on the path. “ Monsieur est voyageur? ” he asked. And the Arethusa , strong in his innocence, forgetful of his vile attire, replied⁠—I had almost said with gaiety: “So it would appear.””

  A gendarme stopped the Arethusa and asked if he was a traveler; the Arethusa, unaware of his suspicious look, answered cheerfully.

  Marks the beginning of the Arethusa's arrest.