The Return · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Return by Walter de la Mare.
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Chapter 1
Epigraph
The epigraph quotes Sir Thomas Browne, warning against proximity to corruption and the danger of being tainted by evil influences.
Chapter 2
The Return
Arthur Lawford returns home after his unsettling experience at Widderstone churchyard, only to find that his face has changed. He struggles to convince his wife Sheila of his identity, leading to a tense confrontation that underscores his growing isolation and the supernatural nature of his transformation.
Chapter 3
I
Arthur Lawford, recovering from an illness, wanders into the quiet churchyard of Widderstone. He reflects on his life, his marriage, and a growing sense of melancholy and unreality. After falling into a deep reverie, he awakens in the dark and hurries home. Upon arriving, he discovers that his face has changed in the mirror, leading to a tense confrontation with his wife Sheila, who cannot understand his distress. Lawford struggles with the horrifying transformation and his own sanity.
Chapter 4
Chapter II
Lawford reveals his transformed face to his wife Sheila, who reacts with disbelief and suspicion. She locks him in his room, seeks advice from Mr. Bethany, and struggles to accept the reality of his condition. Lawford, isolated and desperate, tries to maintain composure while reading Quain's medical dictionary for answers.
Chapter 5
III
Mr. Bethany visits the Lawfords and attempts to understand Arthur's strange transformation after his ramble to Widderstone churchyard. Lawford recounts his memory of kneeling by a tombstone, falling asleep, and waking changed. Despite Bethany's probing, Lawford insists he was alone. The vicar, deeply unsettled by the change in Lawford's appearance, advises rest and caution. After Bethany leaves, Sheila and Arthur share a tense, sorrowful exchange, and she has prepared a separate bed for him.
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