The Lodger · Chapter
Chapter III explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Bunting attends to the lodger's peculiar requests, including turning pictures to the wall and borrowing a Bible. She recalls a similar incident from her youth, which reassures her. Mr. Sleuth reads aloud from the Bible, unsettling her with his choice of verses.
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 dramatic climax because Bunting’s psychological tension peaks into a desperate, instinctive need f…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Appearance vs. Reality
Mr. Sleuth's request to turn pictures to the wall and his reading of scripture contrast with his unsettling behavior.
- Fear and Suspicion
Mrs. Bunting is disturbed by the lodger's actions and the ominous Bible verses he recites.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Bunting
Manages the lodger's unusual demands and recalls a past experience to normalize his behavior.
- Mr. Sleuth
Requests the pictures be turned to the wall, borrows a Bible, and reads aloud disturbing passages.
- Mr. Bunting
Goes out to buy supplies; comments on the lodger's odd appearance.
Key passages
“Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.”
The lodger reads a Bible verse about a woman's home leading to destruction.
This quote heightens the sense of threat and moral judgment.
“I prefer bare walls, Mrs. Bunting. As a matter of fact, I have been used to seeing bare walls about me for a long time.”
Mr. Sleuth explains his preference for empty walls, hinting at a past involving confinement.
Suggests a history of imprisonment or isolation.
