# His Colonial Oath explained — While the Billy Boils

> Chapter companion for While the Billy Boils by Henry Lawson.

## What happens

The narrator encounters an old schoolmate upcountry who has changed greatly, with a bristly red beard and a terse, repetitive manner of speaking. The conversation is stilted, with the schoolmate responding almost exclusively with 'My oath!' and 'My blooming oath!' The narrator tries to bridge the gap by adopting a rough bush vernacular, but the exchange remains awkward. The schoolmate mentions that Mr. B. finished his education, and the narrator reflects on how out of touch he has become with the bush after living in the city for years.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Memory

The narrator questions whether his old schoolmate has truly changed or if it is he himself who has become out of touch with his bush roots.

### Humor and Irony

The absurdity of the one-sided conversation, with the schoolmate's repeated 'My oath!' responses, creates a dry, ironic humor.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

The narrator meets an old schoolmate and reflects on the disconnect between city and bush life.

### Mr. B.

The deceased schoolmaster who 'finished' the schoolmate's education.

## Key lines

> I lately met an old schoolmate of mine upcountry. He was much changed. He was tall and lank, and had the most hideous bristly red beard I ever saw.

Recently I encountered a former classmate in the bush. He looked very different—tall, thin, and with an ugly, bristly red beard.

_The narrator describes the physical transformation of his old schoolmate._

> I wonder whether he was changed after all⁠—or, was it I? A man does seem to get out of touch with the bush after living in cities for eight or ten years.

I question if he had really changed, or if it was me who had changed. Living in the city for nearly a decade can make a person lose connection with the bush.

_The narrator reflects on the theme of identity and the gap between urban and rural life._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/while_the_billy_boils_se/chapters/his-colonial-oath
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/while_the_billy_boils_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/while_the_billy_boils_se/chapters