Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man · Chapter
II explained
The narrator reflects on how his Aunt Evelyn's hiring of the groom Dixon set him on the path to becoming a foxhunting man.
What happens
The narrator reflects on how his Aunt Evelyn's hiring of the groom Dixon set him on the path to becoming a foxhunting man. Dixon gradually replaces the carriage horses with more spirited animals, and eventually persuades Aunt Evelyn to buy a pony for young George, marking the beginning of his riding career.
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 Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the psychological peak where the narrator’s personal vend…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Social Class and Hierarchy
The narrator notes the social distance between his aunt's household and the county gentry, symbolized by the two-mile gap beyond Lady Dumborough's calling radius.
- Innocence and Naivety
Young George's tremulous excitement and speechless joy at first riding the pony highlight his childhood innocence.
- Sport as a Way of Life
Dixon's secret ambition to make a sportsman of George and the gradual preparation for foxhunting show how sport shapes identity and aspiration.
Characters to notice
- George Sherston
The narrator recalls his childhood and the influence of Dixon on his early riding experiences.
- Aunt Evelyn
George's timid and easily influenced guardian, who is persuaded by Dixon to take up riding and later to buy a pony for George.
- Tom Dixon
The jaunty groom who gradually improves the horses and secretly plans to make a sportsman of young George.
- Master George
The young George Sherston, who receives his first pony and begins riding lessons.
Key passages
“Had my Aunt Evelyn employed an unpretentious groom-gardener (who would really have suited her original requirements far better than jaunty young Dixon) I should never have earned the right to call myself a foxhunting man.”
If Aunt Evelyn had hired a simple groom instead of Dixon, I would never have become a foxhunter.
The narrator credits Dixon with setting him on his sporting path.
“Dixon dearly loved to do a deal, and my aunt was amenable to his influence.”
Dixon enjoyed bargaining, and Aunt Evelyn was easily swayed by him.
Describes the dynamic between Dixon and Aunt Evelyn.
“He would make a sportsman of him, at any rate!”
Dixon was determined to turn George into a sportsman.
Reveals Dixon's secret ambition for the narrator.
“Stick your knees in, sir,” he said, adding, “I can see you’ll make a rider all right.””
Dixon told George to grip with his knees and predicted he would become a good rider.
Dixon's first use of 'sir' marks a turning point in their relationship.
