Can Such Things Be? · Chapter
A Resumed Identity explained
A soldier awakens with no memory of his past and finds himself in a strange, unfamiliar setting.
What happens
A soldier awakens with no memory of his past and finds himself in a strange, unfamiliar setting. He struggles to piece together his identity and the circumstances that led him there, confronting the unsettling possibility that he may be a ghost or a figure from another time.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the narrato…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Identity and Self
The central theme of the chapter, as the protagonist struggles to recover his lost identity and understand his place in the world.
- Madness and Perception
The soldier's disorientation and fragmented memories blur the line between reality and delusion.
Characters to notice
- Brainerd Byring
The protagonist, a lieutenant who awakens with amnesia and grapples with his lost identity.
- Lieutenant Dudley
A fellow officer who interacts with Byring and helps reveal the truth about his past.
Key passages
“A Resumed Identity”
The chapter explores a soldier's journey to reclaim his forgotten sense of self.
The title itself encapsulates the core narrative of rediscovering one's identity.
