Zuleika Dobson · Chapter
XIX explained
The Duke, having kissed Katie goodbye, walks through Oxford, taking farewell of its landmarks.
What happens
The Duke, having kissed Katie goodbye, walks through Oxford, taking farewell of its landmarks. He then goes to the river for the bumping races, where, after calling Zuleika's name as promised, he plunges into the water to drown. Many other youths follow him, crying 'Zuleika!' and leaping in. The Duke swims underwater, briefly surfaces to see Judas bump Magdalen, then sinks again. The chapter also follows a young man named Harold, who is with his sister Jessie and Aunt Mabel, and who later leaves them abruptly to join the suicides.
Themes in this chapter
Death and Sacrifice
The Duke deliberately drowns himself for Zuleika, and many other youths emulate him, turning death into a mass spectacle.
Love and Obsession
Zuleika's manipulation and the Duke's fatal devotion highlight the destructive power of obsessive love.
Fate and Irony
The gods misinterpret the Duke's ironic statement about dying after the races, causing his death to occur at their chosen moment.
Artifice and Performance
The Duke's dramatic plunge and the crowd's theatrical reactions underscore the performative nature of his suicide.
Characters to notice
- Duke of Dorset
Walks through Oxford, takes farewell of landmarks, then goes to the river, calls Zuleika's name, and plunges into the water to drown.
- Zuleika Dobson
Whispers to the Duke on the roof, reminds him to call her name, and watches from the roof as he jumps.
- Katie
Briefly mentioned as the Duke kissed her goodbye and then lost sight of her.
- Sir Harry Esson
Harold, an undergraduate, is with his sister Jessie and Aunt Mabel; he is irritable and later leaves them abruptly to go to the river.
- Jessie
Harold's sister, who with Aunt Mabel is left standing after Harold runs off.
- Aunt Mabel
Harold's aunt, who stares at the Duke and later is left with Jessie after Harold leaves.
- Mrs. Batch
Mentioned in the Duke's thoughts as he wonders if she cashed his cheque.
Key passages
“it fixed in my mind that you—but no, of course, in that mantle you couldn’t. But why not come up on the roof with me meanwhile, and then afterwards make some excuse and—” The rest of her whisper was lost in another growl of thunder.”
Zuleika suggests the Duke join her on the roof, but her words are drowned out by thunder.
Zuleika tries to persuade the Duke to accompany her, but the storm interrupts.
“I would rather make my excuses forthwith,” said the Duke. “And, as the races must be almost due now, I advise you to go straight up and secure a place against the railing.””
The Duke declines her invitation and tells her to go to the roof alone to watch the races.
The Duke insists on following his own plan, dismissing Zuleika's request.
“Goodbye, John,” she whispered. “See, I am still wearing your studs. Goodbye. Don’t forget to call my name in a loud voice. You promised.””
Zuleika reminds the Duke to call her name loudly before he dies, as he promised.
Zuleika's final instruction to the Duke before his suicide.
“I have loved but twice in my life; and none but you have I loved. This, too: if you hadn’t forced me to kill my love, I would have died with you. And you know it is true.””
Zuleika claims she has only loved twice and that she would have died with the Duke if he hadn't made her stop loving him.
Zuleika's dramatic declaration of love and regret.
“Would Judas bump Magdalen? Would Judas be head of the river? Strange, thought the Duke, that for him, standing as he did on the peak of dandyism, on the brink of eternity, this trivial question of boats could have importance.”
The Duke reflects on the irony of caring about the boat race when he is about to die.
The Duke's internal conflict between worldly concerns and his impending death.
“Zuleika!” he cried in a loud voice. Then he took a deep breath, and, burying his face in his mantle, plunged.”
The Duke calls Zuleika's name loudly, then dives into the river.
The Duke fulfills his promise and begins his suicide.
