In Memoriam Chapter Seven: Intimacy and Aftermath

⚠️ 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

The platoon withdraws from the reserve line to a village for rest. Gaunt remains distant and troubled, ignoring Ellwood after a previous breakdown. The officers billet in a farmhouse; Gaunt and Ellwood share a room. Gaunt suffers a severe nightmare, shouting orders and thrashing. Ellwood comforts him, and they share a bed. Gaunt admits his fear of dying and his shame at being a mess. They nearly have sex, but Gaunt stops them. The next day, they go for a walk. Gaunt kisses Ellwood’s head, then initiates oral sex under an oak tree. Afterward, Gaunt becomes cold and sarcastic, asking Ellwood to recite Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” They argue, then retreat into silence. The chapter ends with them returning separately to the billet.

Key Events

The platoon marches five miles back to a village, passing fields of corpses.
Gaunt ignores Ellwood and avoids rooming with him, but Hayes forces them to share.
Gaunt has a violent nightmare, shouting “Over the top!” and thrashing.
Ellwood calms Gaunt, and they lie together; Gaunt confesses he feels like a “ragged skeleton.”
They almost have sex, but Gaunt pushes Ellwood away.
The next day, Gaunt and Ellwood walk alone, quoting poetry.
Gaunt kisses Ellwood’s head and later performs oral sex on him; Ellwood reciprocates.
After the act, Gaunt becomes dismissive and asks for a poem; Ellwood lies about which one.
They argue and return to the billet separately.

Character Development

Gaunt: His trauma deepens; he is haunted by nightmares, drinks heavily, and struggles to maintain composure. The intimacy with Ellwood briefly softens him, but afterward he retreats into coldness, showing his inability to reconcile desire with guilt and fear.
Ellwood: Remains steadfast in his affection, but becomes frustrated with Gaunt’s emotional volatility. His willingness to follow Gaunt’s lead, even when hurt, demonstrates his devotion. He begins to see Gaunt’s vulnerability clearly.
Hayes: Shows concern by forcing Gaunt to sleep apart from him, implying Gaunt’s sleep-talking (a new detail) is distressing to others.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

War as psychological destruction: Gaunt’s nightmare and confession (“nerves without skin”) illustrate PTSD long before it was named. The contrast between the clean, rested replacement soldiers and the haggard veterans underscores the dehumanizing cycle.
Poetry as refuge and weapon: Ellwood constantly quotes Tennyson and Longfellow, using verse to comfort, deflect, or provoke. The final lie – reciting “The Charge of the Light Brigade” instead of Wyatt’s “They flee from me” – masks his pain.
Intimacy in extremis: The sexual encounter under the oak tree is tender yet fraught. It happens against a backdrop of gunfire and rain, symbolizing beauty and mortality intertwined. Gaunt’s proficiency suggests past coercion; Ellwood’s care offers a kinder alternative.
Nature vs. war: The walk through the countryside, the oak tree, and the magpie (“one for sorrow”) contrast with the mud and slaughter. Gaunt notes the sky as a “redeeming feature” of war.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is the emotional and physical climax of the first half of the novel. Gaunt and Ellwood’s relationship moves from unspoken attraction to explicit intimacy, yet the aftermath leaves them more estranged than before. The chapter crystallizes the core conflict: can love survive the War? Gaunt’s inability to accept tenderness reflects the wider theme of men broken by conflict. It also sets up future tensions around duty, desire, and survival.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Gaunt stop Ellwood from continuing their intimate moment in the bedroom?
Gaunt is overwhelmed by shame and fear. He says, “You’ll wish you had slept, tomorrow,” suggesting he believes intimacy will only make Ellwood’s loss harder when Gaunt dies. His trauma also makes him unable to be vulnerable for long.
How does Ellwood’s choice of poem at the end of the walk reveal his true feelings?
Ellwood lies and recites “The Charge of the Light Brigade” instead of Wyatt’s “They flee from me,” which laments a lover’s withdrawal. The lie masks his hurt at Gaunt’s coldness, while the chosen poem’s theme of doomed duty mirrors his own futile loyalty.
What does the detail of Gaunt being “terrifyingly good” at oral sex suggest about his past?
Gaunt’s skill and his earlier comment about being “told I was rather good at that” imply prior experience, likely with older boys at school or in the army. Combined with his bitterness and association with Sandys (from earlier chapters), it hints at sexual coercion or exploitative encounters.