Poetry · Chapter
Exit Madge explained
The chapter laments the departure of Madge, who has moved back to the city, leaving behind a young lover and a neighborhood that feels dismal and dreary without her cheerful presence.
What happens
The chapter laments the departure of Madge, who has moved back to the city, leaving behind a young lover and a neighborhood that feels dismal and dreary without her cheerful presence. Her nurse, who cared for the narrator's son, has also left, compounding the sense of loss.
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
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because the speaker confronts the painful realization that his child’s lov…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Community and Companionship
The neighborhood's collective sorrow and the young lover's distress highlight the importance of Madge's presence and the bonds she formed.
- Domestic Life
The nurse's departure and the care of the narrator's son underscore the domestic sphere affected by Madge's move.
Characters to notice
- Madge
Madge has moved back to the city, taking her smile, curls, and fun, leaving the neighborhood in sorrow.
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator expresses grief over Madge's departure and the loss of her nurse, who cared for their son.
Key passages
“Madge has moved back to the city, With her year and a half of good cheer.”
Madge has returned to urban life, taking with her the joy she brought over the past eighteen months.
Summarizes the central event of the chapter.
“The neighborhood sighs, the neighborhood cries; The neighborhood’s dismal and drear.”
The entire community is saddened and gloomy without Madge.
Conveys the emotional impact on the neighborhood.
