Can Such Things Be? · Chapter
The Difficulty of Crossing a Field explained
In July 1854, a planter named Williamson vanishes without a trace while crossing a pasture near Selma, Alabama, witnessed by his neighbor Armour Wren and Wren's son James.
What happens
In July 1854, a planter named Williamson vanishes without a trace while crossing a pasture near Selma, Alabama, witnessed by his neighbor Armour Wren and Wren's son James. Despite a thorough search, no explanation is found, and the courts declare him dead.
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 inexplicable disappearance in broad daylight, with no trace or explanation, evokes a sense of the uncanny.
- Isolation and Terror
The sudden, inexplicable loss of a person in an open field creates a profound sense of isolation and terror for the witnesses.
Characters to notice
- Williamson
The planter who mysteriously disappears while crossing a pasture.
- Mr. Wren
Neighbor who witnesses the disappearance and testifies in court.
- Mrs. Williamson
Williamson's wife, who loses her reason after the event.
Key passages
“Throwing away the stump of a cigar, the planter rose, saying: 'I forgot to tell Andrew about those horses.'”
The planter tossed his cigar and stood up, mentioning he needed to speak to Andrew about the horses.
Sets the mundane context before the disappearance.
“My son's exclamation caused me to look toward the spot where I had seen the deceased an instant before, but he was not there, nor was he anywhere visible.”
When my son cried out, I looked to where I had just seen Williamson, but he had vanished completely.
Key testimony describing the moment of disappearance.
