Short Fiction · Chapter
Green Tea explained
Dr.
What happens
Dr. Hesselius recounts the case of the Rev. Mr. Jennings, a clergyman tormented by a malevolent monkey-like specter that only he can see, driving him to madness and ultimately suicide.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the psychological peak of the narrator's horror and the r…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Supernatural and the Uncanny
The invisible monkey demon that haunts Jennings embodies the uncanny intersection of the supernatural and psychological horror.
- Guilt and Retribution
Jennings' torment may be interpreted as a manifestation of guilt or divine punishment for his secret doubts and sins.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Jennings
The tormented clergyman who is haunted by a spectral monkey.
- Doctor Hesselius
The physician and narrator who investigates Jennings' case.
Key passages
“I saw a monkey, a hideous little monster, with a black face and a white beard, and it was grinning at me.”
Jennings describes the spectral monkey that torments him as a small, grotesque creature with a black face and white beard, grinning malevolently.
Key description of the haunting entity.
“I have been a great reader of Swedenborg, and I have often thought that his doctrine of 'correspondences' might explain the appearance of this creature.”
Jennings connects his haunting to Swedenborg's philosophy, suggesting the monkey might be a spiritual symbol of his inner state.
Highlights the theological and philosophical underpinnings of the story.
