William—An Englishman · Chapter
V explained
William and Griselda discover the Peys farm deserted, with livestock and carts gone, and a mysterious grave in the garden.
What happens
William and Griselda discover the Peys farm deserted, with livestock and carts gone, and a mysterious grave in the garden. They grapple with fear and uncertainty, deciding not to report the grave to authorities due to language barriers and legal concerns. They spend a tense night in their cottage, alert for any sound, and plan to leave the next morning.
Themes in this chapter
War and Illusion
The discovery of the grave and the deserted farm shatters William and Griselda's illusions of safety and normalcy, as the war's violence encroaches on their secluded life.
Grief and Isolation
The couple's fear and sense of isolation intensify as they confront the unknown grave and the empty farm, feeling cut off from humanity.
Characters to notice
- William Tully
William and Griselda discover the grave and deserted farm; he later theorizes a wounded Belgian soldier died there.
- Griselda Tully
Griselda is uneasy about the grave and the empty farm, and she and William decide not to inform the authorities.
- Madame Peys
Madame Peys and her family have vanished from the farm, leaving behind a grave and a note.
- Philippe
Philippe is mentioned as a possible visitor who might return to the farm.
Key passages
“I wonder whose grave it is—if it’s one of the Peys. It’s so odd their all having gone—there must be something wrong.”
Griselda speculates that the grave might belong to a member of the Peys family and that their disappearance indicates trouble.
This shows Griselda's growing suspicion and fear about the events surrounding them.
“Some fleeing Belgian, wounded to death, had found strength to outrun or outride the Uhlan, and seeking a refuge in the hidden valley had brought his news to the farmhouse, and died after giving it utterance.”
William later theorizes that a dying Belgian soldier escaped the German cavalry and reached the farm, where he died after sharing his story.
This reflects William's attempt to make sense of the mystery, linking it to the war's violence.