When the World Shook · Chapter
V: The Cyclone explained
The chapter describes the voyage of the Star of the South from Egypt through the Red Sea, Ceylon, and Australia, with stops for sightseeing and religious debates between Bastin and Bickley.
What happens
The chapter describes the voyage of the Star of the South from Egypt through the Red Sea, Ceylon, and Australia, with stops for sightseeing and religious debates between Bastin and Bickley. Onboard, Jacobsen holds séances and planchette sessions that produce unsettling predictions. After Jacobsen disappears in Apia, the ship encounters a severe gale that develops into a cyclone, leaving the crew lost and anxious as the barometer drops dangerously.
Themes in this chapter
Clash of Beliefs
Bastin and Bickley's ongoing theological debates, with Bastin's faith and Bickley's scientific skepticism clashing over séances and planchette phenomena.
The Search for Meaning
The planchette's cryptic prediction about 'most remarkable things' happening to the trio hints at a quest for deeper understanding, while Jacobsen's fearful reaction suggests hidden truths.
Characters to notice
- Humphrey Arbuthnot
Narrates the voyage, participates in planchette sessions, and discovers Jacobsen's farewell letter.
- Mr. Bastin
Engages in religious arguments with Bickley, studies the South Sea Island language, and is present during the séances and planchette incident.
- J. R. Bickley
Debates theology with Bastin, is frustrated by supernatural phenomena, and experiments with invisible ink after the planchette trick.
- Jacobsen
Conducts séances and planchette sessions, becomes disturbed by a prediction, smashes the planchette, and later disappears in Apia leaving a farewell letter.
- Captain Astley
Commands the Star of the South, grows alarmed during the gale, and reveals the barometer has been tampered with to avoid frightening passengers.
Key passages
“It never seemed to occur to either of them that all faiths may be and indeed probably are progressive; in short, different rays of light thrown from the various facets of the same crystal, as in turn these are shone upon by the sun of Truth.”
Arbuthnot reflects that Bastin and Bickley fail to see that all religions might be evolving perspectives of a single truth.
Arbuthnot's philosophical observation on religious pluralism.
“Can I help it if something pulled your nose and snatched off your eyeglasses, which anyhow are quite useless to you when there is no light?”
Bastin denies responsibility for supernatural events during the séance, pointing out the absurdity of Bickley's accusations.
Bastin's defense after Bickley's glasses are snatched in the dark.
“Oppositions of science falsely so called.”
The planchette writes a biblical quote (1 Timothy 6:20) mocking Bickley's scientific skepticism.
The planchette's message taunting Bickley's rationalism.
“To A, B the D, and B the C, the most remarkable things will happen that have happened to men living in the world.”
The planchette predicts extraordinary events for Arbuthnot, Bickley (the Doctor), and Bastin (the Clergyman).
The cryptic prophecy that disturbs Jacobsen.