Summary Outraged by Wang’s untimely intrusion, Heyst looks about the room. Then Wang announces, “Boat out there.” The boat has three white men in it. Heyst is startled. He calls out to Lena, who says she is bathing her eyes, and tells her to stay inside the house. Overwhelmed by […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 6Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 5
Summary Heyst and Lena start home. They pass the spot where they must view the sea, “the floating abyss of emptiness,” in the “tragic brutality of the light.” Lena longs for the friendly night. She knows now the fullness of her love for Heyst. There can never be another like […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 5Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 4
Summary Heyst continues his conversation with Lena in the forest glade. He remarks on her serious air and her deep gloom. On her part, she dares not to look at him for fear of betraying herself. She feels an overwhelming desire to give herself to him more completely “by some […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 4Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 3
Summary On a morning more than three months later, Heyst comes out as usual to lean his arms on the verandah and think. He contemplates his latest participation in life, yet by habit and determined purpose he is a spectator still. His mood of “grim doubt” has no time to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 3Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 2
Summary During Heyst’s absence in Sourabaya, Wang has busied himself by burning off the land in front of the main bungalow. A broad space, “black and level,” shows where flames have swept from the front of the house to the edge of the forest — a dismal sight. This charred […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 2Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 1
Summary Heyst has been sitting for two years among the ruins of the Tropical Belt Coal Company. He has much time for meditation. He uses it to consider his father and his father’s philosophy. One bit of advice has impressed itself deeply into his consciousness: “I advise you to cultivate […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 3: Chapter 1Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 8
Summary The suggested horror in Ricardo’s affable talk collapses Schomberg “as if his moral neck had been broken.” He says he never thought of sending for the police, but he can’t figure why Jones and Ricardo want to stay on here in Sourabaya when they are accustomed to larger operation. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 8Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 7
Summary Ricardo continues his account of his and Jones’ villainous escape from the schooner. He credits the gentlemanly habits of Mr. Jones for their stopping short of murder. Mr. Jones, it seems, has a finesse about murder. He will not allow ferocity unless it is necessary. Ricardo says he has […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 7Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 6
Summary Gambling is now a nightly feature at Schomberg’s hotel. The wretched man pretends ignorance of what goes on behind the darkened windows of his concert hall. Yet he spies on the desperadoes and shudders when he remembers the weapons in their luggage. He drags out a miserable existence compounded […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 6Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 5
Summary After three weeks of entertaining “plain Mr. Jones” and his secretary, Schomberg decides that he must get rid of these two. He knows they are armed. A week ago, at his insistence, Mrs. Schomberg had searched their luggage and found a supply of knives and revolvers. He curses and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter 5