Can Such Things Be? · Chapter
A Vine on a House explained
The chapter recounts the eerie history of an abandoned house near Norton, Missouri, once occupied by the Harding family.
What happens
The chapter recounts the eerie history of an abandoned house near Norton, Missouri, once occupied by the Harding family. After Mrs. Harding supposedly left to visit her mother in Iowa and never returned, the family vanished. The house became haunted, and a mysterious vine covering it exhibited violent, inexplicable agitation. When dug up, the vine's roots were found to form a grotesque, human-like shape missing a left foot—matching Mrs. Harding's amputation. The implication is that she was murdered and buried beneath the vine.
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 Falling action.
- 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
- The Uncanny and the Grotesque
The vine's root system eerily resembles a human form, missing the left foot like Mrs. Harding, creating a grotesque revelation.
- Guilt and Retribution
The vine's violent agitation and the buried remains suggest a hidden crime and a supernatural sign of guilt.
- Death and the Supernatural
The house's haunting, the vine's inexplicable movements, and the implied murder all center on death and supernatural phenomena.
Characters to notice
- Robert Harding
Silent, cold-mannered husband who claimed his wife went to Iowa; he and the family later disappeared.
- Mrs. Harding
Gentle, sad-eyed woman lacking a left foot; she never actually visited Iowa and is presumed murdered.
- Jane
Miss Julia Went, Mrs. Harding's sister, lived with the family and was viewed with suspicion by neighbors.
Key passages
“The figure lacked the left foot.”
The root formation was missing a left foot, just like Mrs. Harding.
This detail confirms the connection between the vine's roots and Mrs. Harding's body.
“Mrs. Harding had never visited her relatives in Iowa, nor did they know that she was supposed to have done so.”
It was discovered that Mrs. Harding never went to Iowa, and her family was unaware of the claim.
This reveals Robert Harding's lie and implies foul play.
