Chapter 3 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

After spending a month drinking in Saskatchewan, Edwin decides to leave Reginald, who has settled into his new farm, and continue westward. His destination is Victoria, British Columbia, where he plans to meet Thomas, a school friend of his brother Niall. Thomas had entered the continent through New York City and immediately traveled west.

The train journey through the Rocky Mountains overwhelms Edwin. He presses his forehead to the window like a child, openly staring at the scenery. The beauty is so intense that it takes his breath away. He reflects that he may have taken the drinking too far back in Saskatchewan, and he resolves to become a better man once he reaches British Columbia. The sunlight hurts his eyes, a small reminder of his excesses.

When Edwin arrives in Victoria, he is struck by the contrast between the wild splendor of the mountains and the tame, pretty streets of the city. English accents surround him everywhere, making him feel oddly at home. He thinks he could stay here for a while.

He finds Thomas in a tidy hotel in the city center, where Thomas has taken the best room. They order tea with scones in the restaurant downstairs. The two have not seen each other in three or four years, but Thomas has changed little—he still has the reddish complexion he has had since childhood, giving him the perpetual look of just having stepped off a rugby pitch. Thomas is trying to become a member of the Victoria business community, but he is vague about what kind of business he wants to be in.

Thomas asks about Niall. Edwin reports that Niall is in Australia and seems happy according to his letters, though Edwin speculates that Niall is probably drinking away his remittance money. Thomas remarks that happiness is no small thing, and that more than most people can claim it.

As they talk, Edwin's gaze keeps drifting to the street, the shop fronts, and, in the distance, the unfathomable wilderness—dark, towering trees crowding in around the periphery of the city. He finds something ludicrous about the idea that this wilderness belongs to Britain, but he quickly suppresses that thought because it reminds him of his last dinner party in England.

Key Events

Edwin leaves Reginald's farm after a month of drinking and continues west.
The train ride through the Rocky Mountains overwhelms Edwin, prompting his resolve to become a better man.
Edwin arrives in Victoria and is struck by its tame, English character.
He meets Thomas at a hotel; they have tea and scones.
Thomas is vague about his business plans but is trying to join the Victoria business community.
Edwin shares news of Niall in Australia, speculating that Niall is drinking away his remittance money.
Edwin suppresses a thought about the absurdity of British ownership of the wilderness, which reminds him of his last dinner party in England.

Character Development

Edwin continues his journey of self-reinvention. After a month of drinking, he decides to change his ways, vowing to be a better man in British Columbia. His awe at the Rocky Mountains shows a capacity for wonder and a desire for moral improvement. Yet his suppressed thought about the wilderness belonging to Britain reveals an underlying critique of empire that he is not ready to voice, even to himself. This internal conflict suggests he is still bound by the social conventions of his homeland.

Thomas is introduced as a man who has changed little physically but is trying to establish himself in a new place. His vagueness about his business intentions hints at either a lack of direction or a reluctance to reveal his true plans. His comment about happiness being no small thing suggests a pragmatic, perhaps weary, view of life.

Niall remains off-screen but is characterized through Edwin's words. Edwin's speculation that Niall is drinking away his remittance money reinforces the theme of the remittance man—a young man sent abroad to live on an allowance, often with little purpose.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Remittance men: Edwin's comment about Niall drinking away his remittance money directly invokes this historical figure. Edwin himself is also a remittance man, sent away from England with an allowance. The chapter explores the aimlessness and potential self-destruction of such men.

Colonialism and empire: The idea that the wilderness belongs to Britain is presented as ludicrous to Edwin, but he suppresses the thought. This moment highlights the tension between the reality of the land and the imperial claims over it. The presence of English accents everywhere in Victoria reinforces the colonial transplant of British culture.

Civilization versus wilderness: Victoria is described as tame and pretty, while the wilderness looms at the periphery. Edwin's gaze keeps drifting to the wild trees, suggesting an attraction to the untamed that contrasts with the ordered, English-like city.

Self-reinvention: Edwin's resolve to be a better man in British Columbia echoes the classic frontier narrative of starting anew. However, his suppressed thought suggests that leaving England does not automatically free him from its mental constraints.

Exile and displacement: Both Edwin and Thomas are exiles of a sort, trying to find their place in a new land. The chapter captures the sense of being between worlds—neither fully English nor fully at home in the colonies.

Sublime natural beauty: The Rocky Mountains overwhelm Edwin, evoking the sublime—a beauty so vast it is almost terrifying. This experience prompts his moral resolution.

Suppressed critique of empire: Edwin's fleeting thought about the ludicrousness of British ownership is quickly pushed away. This motif of suppression suggests that even those who benefit from empire may harbor doubts they cannot express.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 3 deepens Edwin's journey and introduces a key character, Thomas, who may play a larger role in the narrative. It establishes the setting of Victoria and the broader colonial context. The chapter also develops the theme of self-reinvention and the tension between civilization and wilderness, which are central to the novel's exploration of time, place, and identity. Edwin's suppressed thought about empire foreshadows larger questions about ownership and belonging that may resonate later in the book.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Edwin decide to become a better man in British Columbia, and what does this reveal about his character?

Edwin's decision comes after a month of heavy drinking in Saskatchewan. The overwhelming beauty of the Rocky Mountains inspires a sense of awe and a desire for moral improvement. This reveals that Edwin is capable of self-reflection and wants to change his life, but it also suggests he is prone to making grand resolutions without necessarily following through. His resolve is tied to a specific place, indicating that he sees the new land as an opportunity for reinvention.

2. What is the significance of Edwin suppressing his thought about the wilderness belonging to Britain?

The thought that the wilderness cannot truly belong to Britain is a critique of colonial claims. Edwin suppresses it because it reminds him of his last dinner party in England, likely a social occasion where such views would be unacceptable. This moment shows that Edwin is aware of the absurdities of empire but is not yet ready to challenge them openly. It highlights the internal conflict between his upbringing and his new experiences.

3. How does Thomas's vagueness about his business plans contribute to the theme of exile and displacement?

Thomas's vagueness suggests that he is not fully grounded in his new life. He is trying to join the Victoria business community but has no clear direction. This reflects the experience of many exiles who are physically present in a new place but psychologically adrift. His comment about happiness being rare further underscores the difficulty of finding fulfillment in displacement.