# A Sneeze Out of Season explained — Villette

> Chapter companion for Villette by Charlotte Brontë.

## What happens

Lucy reflects on Madame Beck's secret surveillance and her own inner turmoil. She observes Madame's suspicious nature and her attempt to eavesdrop on a conversation between Lucy and Dr. John. Dr. John reveals his concern for a pure, unsuspecting woman at the school, whom Lucy assumes is Madame Beck. Madame's sneeze exposes her eavesdropping, but she composes herself. The chapter also includes a scene where Rosine Matou questions Dr. John about the dropped casket, and he explains he saw it fall from a window.

## Themes in this chapter

### Surveillance and Control

Madame Beck's secret eavesdropping and her systematic inspection of Lucy's belongings highlight the theme of constant surveillance and control within the school.

### Isolation and Identity

Lucy's inner turmoil and her reflection on being 'safe from spies in my heart-poverty' underscore her isolation and struggle to maintain her identity.

## Character check-ins

### Lucy Snowe

Narrator; reflects on Madame Beck's mistrust and her own emotional turmoil; cares for Georgette; interacts with Dr. John.

### John Graham Bretton

Dr. John; visits to check on Georgette; confides in Lucy about his concern for a pure, unsuspecting woman; explains the casket incident to Rosine.

### Madame Beck

Suspicious and manipulative; arranges for Dr. John to visit while she is absent; eavesdrops on Lucy and Dr. John but is exposed by a sneeze.

### Rosine Matou

Pert domestic; questions Dr. John about the dropped casket; shows no fear or shyness; accepts a gold piece from him.

### Georgette Beck

Convalescent child; Lucy cares for her and finds comfort in her affection.

## Key lines

> I turned, then, and fled; descending the stairs with progress as swift and soundless as that of the spider, which at the same instant ran down the bannister.

Lucy quickly and silently fled down the stairs, moving as quietly as a spider.

_Illustrates Lucy's stealth and her awareness of being watched._

> I never had felt so strange and contradictory an inward tumult as I felt for an hour that evening: soreness and laughter, and fire, and grief, shared my heart between them.

Lucy experienced a confusing mix of emotions—pain, amusement, anger, and sadness—all at once.

_Highlights Lucy's emotional complexity and inner conflict._

> How simple the whole explanation! The note had alluded to a physician as then examining 'Gustave.'

The explanation for the dropped casket was straightforward: the note mentioned a doctor who was checking on a patient named Gustave.

_Resolves the mystery of the casket and Dr. John's knowledge of it._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/villette_se/chapters/xiii-a-sneeze-out-of-season
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/villette_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/villette_se/chapters