Chapter Nineteen Summary: Gaunt in the Prison Camp
⚠️ 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
Henry Gaunt, wounded and recovering from a lung injury, is carried to a dormitory in a German prisoner-of-war camp. Morphine causes him to hallucinate that he is back at Preshute, his old school. He repeatedly asks for Ellwood, forgetting that Ellwood remains at the front. A fellow prisoner, Nicholson, briefly checks on him. Later, Gideon Devi—a friend from Grinstead—finds Gaunt and climbs onto his bed. Devi encourages Gaunt to speak openly about his pain, unlike Ellwood’s gentler approach. Gaunt breaks down crying when asked about Ellwood and learns that no mail is allowed in the camp, despite the Hague Convention. Oliver MacCorkindale enters and hints at an escape effort, noting that Devi’s “turn downstairs” is due. Gaunt insists he must return to the front because Ellwood is reckless when unhappy. Devi and MacCorkindale exchange looks, discussing Gaunt’s potential value once healed, especially his German language skills. MacCorkindale describes camp life: no paper—solitary confinement for possessing a scrap—the Iliad recited for popularity, only Adam Bede sent by the Red Cross, a chair-leaping game in the dining hall, and the fact that no one has ever escaped from this camp.
Key Events
- Gaunt is brought to the dormitory and, under morphine, mistakes the camp for Preshute.
- He calls for Ellwood multiple times; Nicholson replies that Ellwood is at the front.
- Gideon Devi, a pilot shot down, recognizes Gaunt and climbs onto his bed.
- Devi presses Gaunt to talk about his wound and his feelings, contrasting with Ellwood’s reticence.
- Gaunt cries when asked about Ellwood and reveals his fear that Ellwood will get himself killed.
- Devi explains that no letters can be sent or received, despite international agreements.
- MacCorkindale enters, mentions it is Devi’s “turn downstairs,” and notes that Gaunt is not yet useful for whatever they are planning.
- Gaunt declares he must return to the front for Ellwood’s sake.
- Devi and MacCorkindale discuss Gaunt’s future utility, citing his strength and German.
- MacCorkindale explains camp restrictions: no paper, only Adam Bede books, the chair-leaping game, and no successful escapes.
Character Development
Henry Gaunt: This chapter exposes Gaunt’s emotional vulnerability. He cries openly and admits he has been “going mad inside my head.” His primary concern shifts from his own survival to Ellwood’s safety, showing the depth of his attachment. He is also physically disabled, which forces him to rely on others.
Gideon Devi: Devi acts as a counterpoint to Ellwood. Where Ellwood asks “delicate, knocking questions” and retreats, Devi forcefully demands honesty from Gaunt. He is pragmatic and already thinking of escape, evaluating Gaunt’s usefulness. His reappearance provides Gaunt with a confidant from his past.
Oliver MacCorkindale: MacCorkindale is practical and resourceful, having adapted to prison life. He recites the Iliad to gain popularity, suggesting he uses his intellect to maintain morale. He is also part of the escape planning with Devi.
Ellwood (offstage): Although not present, Ellwood dominates Gaunt’s thoughts. Gaunt’s perception of Ellwood as “wild” and self-destructive reveals a protective side of Gaunt’s character.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Evidenced Here
- Boarding School as Prison: The camp dormitory reminds Gaunt of Preshute, and Devi notes how well English boarding school prepares one for captivity. This motif links the regulated, all-male environment of school with the confinement of war.
- Camaraderie and Rescue: Prisoners rely on each other. Devi and MacCorkindale look out for Gaunt, and there is an implied escape plan that involves collective effort.
- Language as a Tool: Gaunt’s German is valued for potential escape, highlighting how linguistic skills become strategic assets in war.
- Intellectual Escape: Reciting the Iliad from memory and the monotony of repeated Adam Bede symbolize the prisoners’ need for mental stimulation. The chair-leaping game offers physical distraction.
- Hopelessness vs. Determination: Despite the guards’ strictness and no successful escapes, the prisoners still plot and play, refusing to surrender entirely to despair.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter Nineteen introduces the prison camp setting that will anchor Gaunt’s storyline for the coming chapters. It deepens his character by showing his raw anxiety for Ellwood and his reliance on friendship. The reunion with Devi re-establishes a significant relationship from Gaunt’s past and sets up a potential escape subplot. The chapter also reinforces the novel’s commentary on how systems of confinement—school and prison—mirror each other, and how men cope with captivity through intellect, games, and solidarity.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Gaunt repeatedly ask for Ellwood, and what does this reveal about his state of mind?
Gaunt asks for Ellwood because he is disoriented from morphine and believes he is back at Preshute, where Ellwood would be. His fixation shows that Ellwood is his primary emotional anchor and that Gaunt’s fear for Ellwood’s safety overrides his own suffering.
2. How do Devi and MacCorkindale assess Gaunt’s value to their escape plans, and what does this imply about the camp hierarchy?
They note that Gaunt is not useful “now” (while wounded) but that he is strong and speaks German. This implies that the prisoners evaluate each other’s skills and physical condition as resources for escape, creating a kind of meritocracy based on utility rather than rank.
3. What does the repeated mention of Adam Bede and the Iliad recitation suggest about the prisoners’ intellectual life?
The overabundance of Adam Bede symbolizes the monotony and limited intellectual variety available. In contrast, reciting the Iliad from memory is a popular skill that fosters community and preserves cultural touchstones, showing how literature becomes a lifeline.