In Memoriam Chapter Thirty-Eight – Gaunt’s Confession and Maud’s Understanding

⚠️ 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

After reuniting with the wounded Ellwood in the hospital, Gaunt returns to his family home and asks his sister Maud to pack his books so he can leave for Thornycroft immediately. Maud, hurt that Gaunt’s first words to her were about Ellwood, presses him. She reveals she has been reading Edward Carpenter and has decided not to marry Sidney (Ellwood). Maud then directly asks Gaunt if he is in love with Sidney. Gaunt admits the truth, and Maud embraces him, telling him she does not care about his sexuality but worries for his safety. They reconcile, and Gaunt agrees to stay the weekend. He later persuades his parents to let Maud continue her hospital work. Finally, Gaunt visits Ellwood at his family’s estate. Ellwood, suffering from shell shock, hurls a wine glass at the wall and storms out. Gaunt comforts Mrs. Ellwood, reassuring her that Ellwood’s anger is not directed at her.

Key Events

• Gaunt watches Ellwood sleep in the hospital, struck by the blankness in his one visible eye.
• Ellwood wakes and asks Gaunt if he is “all right,” giving Gaunt hope.
• Gaunt returns home; Maud confronts him about his immediate concern for Ellwood.
• Maud states she will not marry Sidney; she guesses that Gaunt is in love with him.
• Gaunt confirms his love for Ellwood; Maud accepts it and hugs him.
• They quote Greek proverbs: “It is magnanimous to bear offence calmly” and “Forgiveness is better than revenge.”
• Gaunt stays the weekend, then speaks to his parents about Maud’s work.
• Gaunt visits Ellwood at his family’s manor; Ellwood throws a wine glass and storms out.
• Gaunt lies to Mrs. Ellwood, telling her the war is not so bad, and she thanks him for coming.

Character Development

Henry Gaunt – For the first time, Gaunt openly acknowledges his love for Ellwood to another person. His confession to Maud lifts a huge burden; he feels “weightlessness” afterward. He also shows protective care for his sister and his parents.

Maud Gaunt – Maud evolves from a bitter, hurt sister into a compassionate ally. She has educated herself on homosexuality through Edward Carpenter and willingly gives up her engagement to Sidney. Her forgiveness and support mark a major turning point in her relationship with Gaunt.

Sidney Ellwood – His trauma is raw and visible. The empty eye socket and the violent outburst at dinner reveal deep psychological wounds. He cannot bear the platitudes of civilian life, and his anger seems directed at anyone who hasn’t experienced the front.

Mrs. Ellwood – She is heartbroken by her son’s transformation and feels helpless. Gaunt’s comfort, though dishonest, provides her a moment of relief.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Evidenced

• Secrecy and Revelation – Gaunt’s confession breaks years of silence. Maud’s willingness to ask the right question and to accept the answer shows that honesty can strengthen bonds.
• The Weight of War on Families – Both the Gaunt and Ellwood households are decaying. Gaunt’s mother drinks heavily; his father is absent; Mrs. Ellwood weeps over her son’s poems. The war damages not just soldiers but everyone who loves them.
• Classical Wisdom as Resilience – The Greek proverbs exchanged between Gaunt and Maud (from Herodotus and Pittacus) represent an old, clear-eyed way of enduring suffering. Gaunt packs Greek historians because they “prove that Gaunt’s own troubles were ancient and survivable.”
• Shell Shock and Alienation – Ellwood’s outburst and his inability to look at Gaunt illustrate the gulf between combatants and civilians. Gaunt himself performs a role when he lies to Mrs. Ellwood about the war being “rather fun.”
• Home as a Contested Space – Thornycroft Manor, once a dreamlike retreat, now feels frozen and false. Ellwood’s family home, though beautiful, becomes the site of violent rage. Neither place offers true sanctuary.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter Thirty-Eight is the emotional core of Gaunt’s homecoming. It delivers the long-awaited revelation of Gaunt’s love for Ellwood to a family member, and Maud’s acceptance provides a rare moment of hope. At the same time, Ellwood’s trauma shows that survival does not mean healing. The chapter contrasts inner peace (Gaunt’s confession) with outer violence (Ellwood’s glass-throwing), reminding the reader that the war’s damage does not end when the soldier returns. It also deepens Maud’s character, transforming her from a peripheral figure into Gaunt’s most important ally.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Gaunt feel “weightless” after his conversation with Maud?
Gaunt has carried the secret of his love for Ellwood for years, fearing rejection from the person closest to him. When Maud not only accepts the truth but embraces him, the fear of isolation dissolves. He no longer has to pretend with her, and that relief literally feels like a burden lifted.

2. What does Ellwood’s violent outburst at dinner reveal about his mental state?
Ellwood cannot tolerate the cheerful ignorance of civilian life. His mother’s comment about “companionship in France” triggers a rage born of shell shock; he sees her words as trivializing the horror he has endured. The thrown glass is a physical manifestation of his psychological fragmentation.

3. Why do Gaunt and Maud quote Greek proverbs to each other?
These proverbs represent the classical education they share—a language of endurance and forgiveness that predates the war. By quoting Pittacus and Herodotus, they reaffirm their bond and their commitment to moving forward without resentment. The exchange also highlights the intellectual world they both value, a world the war is trying to destroy.