Blood on Her Tongue Chapter 6 Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Lucy wakes in the night consumed by guilt and shame over her own desires and her sister’s worsening condition. She goes to Sarah’s sickroom, where Katje is sleeping on a divan. Lucy climbs into bed and holds Sarah, recalling childhood nights when Sarah comforted her. Sarah mutters deliriously, speaking of hunger and demanding meat that is pink and bloody. She refuses water and mentions “the bog.” Lucy calms her and eventually she falls asleep.

The next morning Lucy questions Magda, Sarah’s lady’s maid. Magda reveals that Sarah had been acting strangely for days: headaches, refusing food, locking herself in her room, and asking for books about insects and fungus. When Magda could not find a book about fungus, Sarah slapped her and bit her arm. Magda shows Lucy the bite marks—a semicircle of scabs and bruises. Lucy is shocked; she had not known Sarah had become physically violent. Magda speaks resentfully about her mistress’s madness and the extra work. Lucy scolds her, then apologizes, but the trust is broken.

Over the next two days, Sarah deteriorates further. She lies motionless, breathing quickly, and when awake she is delirious, hallucinating that her daughter Lucille is calling for her. She refuses all food and water; when spoon-fed broth, she vomits violently. Her lips crack and her tongue swells. Lucy watches in anguish, feeling helpless.

Michael visits frequently but is ill at ease. He confesses that sickrooms make him useless, and at one point tells Katje and Lucy that Sarah looks like a corpse and that he would not ask her to keep fighting. Lucy feels a surge of hatred toward him, which she suppresses. She stays at Sarah’s side, holding her hand and willing her to recover.

On the third day, Arthur announces that Sarah must eat and drink or she will die. He suggests a blood transfusion, noting that perhaps Sarah’s bite of his arm was an unconscious attempt to obtain nourishment. Lucy offers her own blood, but Arthur insists on using a healthy man’s blood. Michael agrees to be the donor. Katje ties a handkerchief around his arm, and Arthur draws a pint of blood and injects it into Sarah. Michael becomes pale and sweaty but endures it. Lucy squeezes Sarah’s hand, silently promising her own flesh and blood if needed. Arthur leaves, saying he will return in the evening, but adds that the most important thing is to keep Sarah comfortable—a remark that makes Lucy suspect he believes Sarah is dying.

Key Events

Lucy wakes with guilt and shame, goes to Sarah’s room, and holds her in bed.
Sarah speaks deliriously, demanding pink meat and mentioning “the bog.”
Magda reveals that Sarah slapped and bit her after Magda could not find a requested book about fungus.
Lucy sees the bite marks on Magda’s arm and is horrified by her sister’s violence.
Over two days, Sarah refuses food and water, vomits when forced, and becomes nearly motionless.
Michael expresses despair and suggests Sarah may be beyond help; Lucy feels a flash of hatred.
Arthur recommends a blood transfusion, and Michael donates blood while Arthur performs the procedure.
Lucy suspects Arthur believes Sarah is dying, which drains her tenderness for him.

Character Development

Lucy Goedhart – Her guilt and shame over her own desires (particularly toward her sister’s husband and her own “onanism”) are highlighted. She shows fierce protectiveness, but also a capacity for sudden hatred when Michael seems to give up hope. Her desperation deepens as she watches Sarah waste away.

Sarah Schatteleyn – Her delirium becomes more pronounced. She speaks of blood, hunger, and the bog, and her violent behavior toward Magda reveals a dangerous side. Her refusal to eat or drink suggests a will to die—or a complete loss of control.

Michael Schatteleyn – Struggles with the helplessness of the sickroom. He speaks of giving Sarah permission to stop fighting, revealing his own exhaustion and perhaps a desire to be released from the burden. He reluctantly submits to the transfusion.

Arthur – Presents himself as a man of science, proposing a novel treatment (transfusion). His earlier kindness in interpreting Sarah’s bite as a survival instinct is later undercut by Lucy’s suspicion that he has given up hope.

Magda – Resentful and sharp-tongued. She withholds information until pressed, and her contempt for both Sarah and the class system is evident. Her bite marks provide concrete evidence of Sarah’s deterioration.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Blood and Nourishment – Sarah’s craving for raw meat and the transfusion itself link blood to life and health. The chapter suggests that blood may be both a literal and symbolic source of vitality, with undertones of vampirism.

Sickness and Madness – Sarah’s illness blurs the line between physical disease and mental derangement. Her hallucinations, violence, and refusal to eat evoke traditional images of madness, while the medical procedure attempts to treat the body.

Twin Bond – Lucy’s memories of Sarah protecting her from the dark, and her current vigil at Sarah’s bedside, underscore the deep connection between the twins. Lucy offers her own body as a source of blood, reinforcing the theme of shared identity.

Class Tension – Magda’s resentment toward her mistress illustrates the power imbalance. Lucy’s difficulty in apologizing to a servant without undermining her own authority shows the constraints of social hierarchy.

Science vs. Superstition – Michael remarks on the irony of bloodletting versus transfusion, and the characters oscillate between rational medicine (Arthur’s procedure) and fear of the unknown (the bog, the bite).

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 6 marks a turning point in Sarah’s physical and mental decline. The introduction of the blood transfusion—a desperate, experimental measure—raises the stakes and foreshadows themes of consumption, exchange, and bodily violation that will likely recur. Lucy’s internal conflict grows: she loves Sarah but is repelled by her sister’s actions and Michael’s weakness. The revelation of Sarah’s violence toward Magda and her obsession with the bog body deepens the mystery of her illness. This chapter also cements the gothic atmosphere: the dark house, the delirious patient, and the eerie night conversation all contribute to a sense of mounting dread.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Lucy feel guilty when she wakes in the night?
Lucy feels guilty because she is comfortably warm in bed after indulging in solitary pleasure, while her twin sister Sarah is lying gravely ill. She also feels shame over her attraction to her sister’s husband, Michael.
What does Magda’s testimony reveal about Sarah’s behavior before her illness fully manifested?
Magda says Sarah had headaches, refused food, demanded specific books (including one about fungus), and flew into rages when her requests were not met. Sarah slapped and bit Magda, leaving visible marks—signs of escalating violence and irrationality.
Why does Arthur decide to perform a blood transfusion, and what does Lucy think of his prognosis afterward?
Arthur believes Sarah must eat and drink to survive, but she cannot hold anything down. He views transfusion as a last resort, comparing it to a case where a patient with a stomach canker was strengthened by blood. After the procedure, Arthur says they must keep Sarah comfortable, which makes Lucy suspect he thinks Sarah is dying.