# IX explained — Vile Bodies

> Chapter companion for Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh.

## What happens

Adam telephones Nina about visiting her father to discuss marriage now that he has a job. Nina suggests she and Ginger will write his column. Adam has lunch with Agatha Runcible and Archie Schwert, who invite him and Nina to motor races. On the train to Aylesbury, he overhears two women discussing the Younger Generation. At Doubting Hall, he finds a film crew shooting a Wesleyan film, encounters a bishop, and finally speaks with Colonel Blount, who is preoccupied with the film and misunderstands Adam's identity, failing to recognize him or his role as Mr. Chatterbox.

## Themes in this chapter

### Media and Celebrity Culture

Adam's new role as Mr. Chatterbox and the film production at Doubting Hall highlight the commodification of fame and the absurdity of the media industry.

### Religion as Commerce

The film 'John Wesley' is a commercial venture exploiting religious themes, with Colonel Blount considering a financial stake in Wonderfilms.

### Hypocrisy and Moral Vacuity

The train passengers' gossip about the Younger Generation reveals superficial moralizing and hypocrisy about youth behavior.

## Character check-ins

### Adam Fenwick-Symes

Rings Nina, has lunch, travels to Aylesbury, visits Colonel Blount to discuss marriage.

### Nina Blount

Speaks with Adam on the phone, offers to write his column with Ginger.

### Miss Runcible

At lunch with Archie Schwert, invites Adam and Nina to motor races.

### Archie Schwert

At lunch with Agatha Runcible, planning to go to motor races.

### Colonel Blount

Preoccupied with the film 'John Wesley', fails to recognize Adam or understand his purpose.

### Ginger Littlejohn

Mentioned by Nina as helping write Adam's column.

## Key lines

> Nina, darling, are you awake?

Adam telephones Nina to ask if she is awake.

_Opens the chapter with Adam's call to Nina._

> I think it would be divine. I know just the sort of things you say. … I expect Ginger does too by now, the poor angel… how he did enjoy himself last night.

Nina offers to write Adam's column with Ginger, confident she knows his style.

_Nina's casual attitude toward Adam's job._

> Colonel Blount, father of the lovely Miss Nina Blount referred to above, rarely comes to London nowadays. He devotes himself instead to shooting on his estate in Buckinghamshire.

Adam mentally composes a newspaper paragraph about Colonel Blount's eccentric shooting habits.

_Shows Adam's automatic journalistic framing of events._

> Well, you can't, son. They're just shooting him now.

A bishop in costume tells Adam that Colonel Blount is being filmed as part of the Wesleyan movie.

_Highlights the absurd confusion on the film set._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters/ix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/vile_bodies_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/vile_bodies_se/chapters