Chapter 6: Five – Arthur's Descent into Theft and Truth
⚠️ 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
Arthur remains in a dazed, feverish state for thirty-six hours following the events of the previous chapter. He avoids the Brooks Library but is forced to return for his Friday shift. Upon entering, he eyes the Special Collection—home to rare anthropodermic books, including Enoch Crane's memoirs bound in human skin. Instead of working there, Arthur decides to steal valuable books: a first edition of The Killer Angels, Katherine Anne Porter's Collected Stories, and Walker Percy's The Moviegoer. He removes the magnetic security strips and packs them in his backpack.
Later, in the Periodicals section, Arthur uses microfiche to research Daphne Nighswander. He finds a June 1989 article detailing her sentencing for shooting postal worker Albert Frown. Further reading reveals she mistook Frown for a gang member due to racial paranoia and a warning from her drug supplier. She served ten years. While reading, Van arrives and invites Arthur to Colin Wren's estate for psychic testing. Arthur and Allie will serve as non-psychic controls. Arthur declines to reveal what he has learned.
Key Events
- Arthur feels ill and tries to avoid the library, but returns for his Friday shift.
- He contemplates the Special Collection and its history of human-skin-bound books.
- He steals three valuable books, removing magnetic tags and hiding them in his backpack.
- Using microfiche, he finds articles about his mother Daphne Nighswander's crime: she shot a postal worker out of racist fear, thinking he was a drug-enforcer.
- He learns details of the shooting and her ten-year sentence.
- Van interrupts, inviting him to Colin Wren's estate for psychic experiments.
- Arthur mentions Allie as a control subject; Van jokes that she cannot read minds, and Arthur teases that she knows Van's thoughts.
Character Development
- Arthur: This chapter deepens Arthur's moral conflict. He steals rare books, rationalizing that multiple copies exist and they won't be missed. This theft contrasts with his earlier role as a careful librarian. His research into his mother's past reveals a traumatic family secret: Daphne Nighswander is his mother, imprisoned for a violent crime rooted in racial prejudice. Arthur's decision to keep this information to himself shows his isolation and shame. He also demonstrates a sharp, observant side in his banter with Van.
- Van: Van remains a loyal friend, casually inviting Arthur to Colin Wren's event. His joke about Allie's psychic inability reveals his own embarrassment and his trusting relationship with Arthur.
- Allie (mentioned offstage): Unseen but referenced, she is set up as a non-psychic control. Van's comment suggests she may have some power or perception that unsettles him.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Theft as a manifestation of guilt: Arthur's decision to steal books parallels his emotional state—taking something valuable from a place he once respected. The theft may symbolize his attempt to reclaim control or to defile a space that reminds him of his mother's past.
- Anthropodermic bibliopegy: The human-skin-bound books represent a grotesque preservation of history and identity. Arthur's awareness of the term suggests an intellectual fascination that borders on morbidity, mirroring his own struggle with inherited trauma.
- Racial prejudice and paranoia: Daphne's crime stems from a racist assumption fueled by her drug supplier's warning. The chapter explores how fear and bigotry can lead to violence, and how that violence ripples through families.
- Research as confrontation: Arthur uses microfiche to uncover truth about his mother, but the medium (whirring reels, grainy images) emphasizes the distance and fragmented nature of memory.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 6 marks a turning point in Arthur's character arc. He transitions from passive guilt to active deception (theft) and from ignorance to knowledge about his mother's crime. The chapter also introduces the psychic testing subplot, which will likely connect to the supernatural elements of the novel. By combining book theft with family research, Hill weaves together material and emotional theft, forcing Arthur to confront the legacy of his mother's actions.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Arthur steal the books despite his respect for the library? Arthur's theft is an impulsive act driven by his disturbed mental state after the events of the previous chapter. He rationalizes that the books are not unique and may not be missed for years. The theft also serves as a symbolic violation of a place that now feels threatening, perhaps because it houses the Special Collection with its skin-bound books—a reminder of humanity's capacity for cruelty.
2. How does Daphne Nighswander's crime reflect broader social issues? Daphne shot Albert Frown because she mistook him for a gang enforcer due to his race. Her supplier's racist warning exploited existing prejudices. The episode illustrates how paranoia and systemic racism can turn ordinary people into perpetrators of violence. It also shows the impact on innocent individuals like Frown, who suffers a permanent limp.
3. What is the significance of Van inviting Arthur to Colin Wren's psychic testing? The invitation introduces a new dimension of the plot—psychic phenomena. Arthur is designated as a "control" with no talent, which underscores his ordinary humanity. The testing may reveal latent abilities or force Arthur to confront the supernatural. It also provides a social distraction from his dark discoveries, offering potential camaraderie even as he harbors secrets.