A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court · Chapter
XXXI: Marco explained
Hank and the King continue their journey, observing the rigid caste behaviors of passersby.
What happens
Hank and the King continue their journey, observing the rigid caste behaviors of passersby. They rescue a boy hanged by children playing mob. Hank investigates wages and the purchasing power of money, noting the circulation of new coins. He meets Dowley the blacksmith and other master mechanics, and arranges a feast at Marco's house, insisting on paying for it himself.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the moment when the Boss’s greatest strength—his modern i…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Social Class and Aristocracy
The chapter opens with a detailed observation of caste behavior: the coal-burner is reverent to a monk, abject to a gentleman, cordial to a farmer, and ignores a slave.
- Progress and Modernization
Hank notes the circulation of new coins and the adoption of dollar-based currency language, and mentions the miller-gun as his own invention sold at government price.
- Power and Corruption
The goldsmith's suspicion and interrogation of Hank when he tries to change a twenty-dollar gold piece illustrates the power dynamics and corruption of authority.
Characters to notice
- Hank Morgan
Narrates the chapter, observes caste behavior, rescues a hanged boy, investigates wages, and arranges a feast.
- King Arthur
Travels with Hank, but spends the afternoon lost in a dream of invading Gaul.
- Marco
The host, a charcoal burner, proud of his friendship with Dowley but worried about the expense of the feast.
- Dowley
A prosperous blacksmith with journeymen and apprentices, invited to dine at Marco's.
- Tom Jones
Referred to as 'Jones,' traveling with Hank and the King, noted as diffident in society.
Key passages
“Toward the shaven monk who trudged along with his cowl tilted back and the sweat washing down his fat jowls, the coal-burner was deeply reverent; to the gentleman he was abject; with the small farmer and the free mechanic he was cordial and gossipy; and when a slave passed by with a countenance respectfully lowered, this chap’s nose was in the air—he couldn’t even see him.”
The coal-burner treated a monk with deep reverence, a gentleman with subservience, a farmer or mechanic with friendliness, and completely ignored a slave.
Illustrates the rigid caste system Hank observes.
“It isn’t what sum you get, it’s how much you can buy with it, that’s the important thing; and it’s that that tells whether your wages are high in fact or only high in name.”
Real wages depend on purchasing power, not the nominal amount.
Hank's economic analysis of prosperity.
“I showed up money enough, in a careless way, to corral the shopkeeper’s respect, and then I wrote down a list of the things I wanted, and handed it to him to see if he could read it.”
Hank flashed money to gain the shopkeeper's respect, then tested his literacy by handing him a written list.
Demonstrates Hank's theatrical approach and the value of literacy.
