# Chapter XII explained — Typee

> Chapter companion for Typee by Herman Melville.

## What happens

The narrator describes his first bath in the valley, followed by a journey with Mehevi and Kory-Kory through the difficult terrain of Typee to the taboo groves, where he observes the sacred and idolatrous sites. Later, during a night of feasting and repose, the narrator and Toby awaken to find the natives gone and see flames and dancing figures, leading to a fearful exchange about cannibalism before Mehevi returns to offer them food.

## Themes in this chapter

### Civilization vs. Nature

The narrator contrasts the 'wilderness' of the Typee path with the 'grand thoroughfare' of the valley, highlighting the tension between civilized order and natural chaos.

### Taboo and Social Order

The taboo groves and the hoolah hoolah ground illustrate the strict social and religious codes governing Typee society.

### Cannibalism and the Other

Toby's dark humor and the narrator's terror about being eaten reflect the Western fear of cannibalism as a marker of savagery.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

Describes his first bath, his journey on Kory-Kory's back, and his fearful reaction to the night's events.

### Toby

Accompanies the narrator, jokes about being cooked by cannibals, and expresses gruff skepticism.

### Mehevi

Visits the narrator, leads the journey to the taboo groves, hosts a feast, and later returns to offer food.

### Kory-Kory

Carries the narrator on his back during the journey and serves him food.

### Marheyo

Mentioned as the host at his domicile, doing the honors with hospitality.

## Key lines

> From the verdant surfaces of the large stones that lay scattered about, the natives were now sliding off into the water, diving and ducking beneath the surface in all directions — the young girls springing buoyantly into the air, and revealing their naked forms to the waist, with their long tresses dancing about their shoulders, their eyes sparkling like drops of dew in the sun, and their gay laughter pealing forth at every frolicsome incident.

The natives playfully slid from the rocks into the water, with young girls leaping up, their hair and laughter bright in the sunlight.

_The narrator romanticizes the carefree and natural behavior of the Typee women._

> The frightful genius of pagan worship seemed to brood in silence over the place, breathing its spell upon every object around.

The atmosphere of the taboo groves felt heavy with the spirit of pagan rituals.

_The narrator projects a sense of dread and mystery onto the sacred site._

> ‘Oh, nothing,’ replied he; ‘getting the fire ready, I suppose.’ ‘Fire!’ exclaimed I, while my heart took to beating like a trip-hammer, ‘what fire?’ ‘Why, the fire to cook us, to be sure, what else would the cannibals be kicking up such a row about if it were not for that?’

Toby jokingly suggests the natives are preparing a fire to cook them, terrifying the narrator.

_This exchange captures the narrator's deep fear of cannibalism and Toby's dark humor._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/typee_se/chapters/xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/typee_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/typee_se/chapters