When the World Shook · Chapter
XXVII: Bastin Discovers a Resemblance explained
After returning to England, Bickley volunteers for service at the front with the R.A.M.C., while Bastin becomes a chaplain.
What happens
After returning to England, Bickley volunteers for service at the front with the R.A.M.C., while Bastin becomes a chaplain. They debate the meaning of their experiences on Orofena, with Bickley skeptical of Oro's age and powers, and Bastin defending the spiritual significance of Yva's conversion and sacrifice. Arbuthnot reflects on the loss of photographic evidence and the impossibility of fully comprehending the vast timescales they encountered.
Themes in this chapter
Clash of Beliefs
Bastin and Bickley continue their debate over faith versus science, with Bastin asserting the primacy of spiritual healing and Bickley demanding empirical proof.
Love and Sacrifice
Yva's conversion and willing sacrifice to save the world are highlighted, and Arbuthnot keeps his private reflections on her love.
Mortality and Immortality
The chapter reflects on the vast timescales of Oro's existence and the human inability to comprehend such longevity, contrasting it with the brevity of earthly life.
Characters to notice
- Humphrey Arbuthnot
Reflects on the loss of photographs and the star maps, and laments being unable to serve at the front due to a head injury.
- Mr. Bastin
Volunteers as a chaplain for the 201st Division, defends Yva's conversion, and argues for the spiritual value of his work over Bickley's medical role.
- J. R. Bickley
Volunteers for the R.A.M.C., remains skeptical about Oro's age and powers, but admits to being humbled by the inexplicable phenomena they witnessed.
- Yva
Mentioned as having been baptized and confirmed by Bastin before her sacrifice, and as the object of Arbuthnot's enduring love and memory.
- Oro
Discussed in terms of his possible age, his threat to destroy the world, and his love for Tommy; Bastin compares him to the devil.
- Marama
Briefly mentioned as reporting convulsions on the island at the moment of the electric discharge.
Key passages
“I hold that it is better to heal souls than bodies, because, as even you will have learned out there in Orofena, they last so much longer.”
Bastin argues that spiritual healing is more important than physical healing because souls are eternal.
Bastin defends his vocation against Bickley's criticism.
“I admit that we saw them, Arbuthnot, and I admit that they are one and all beyond human comprehension. To that extent I am converted, and, I may add, humbled.”
Bickley concedes that the phenomena they witnessed are inexplicable, and he feels humbled by them.
Bickley's skepticism softens in the face of the evidence.
“She became a Christian; so much so that by her own will, I baptised and confirmed her on the very morning of her sacrifice.”
Bastin reveals that Yva converted to Christianity and was baptized just before she died.
Bastin uses Yva's conversion as proof of spiritual transformation.