Chapter 70 Summary & Analysis – The City and Its Uncertain Walls
⚠️ 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 narrator notices a persistent physical discomfort—a lump in his throat and ringing ears—along with a wayward feeling as if his heart has become a young rabbit frolicking in a spring meadow. Despite this turmoil, his daily routine remains calm; he spends afternoons reading books from Yellow Submarine Boy’s vast inner library. The boy has opened his mind to the narrator, who reads with his heart rather than his wounded eyes. Consulting the boy about his unsettling feelings, the narrator learns that the time has come for him to leave the walled town. Yellow Submarine Boy explains that the narrator’s heart is pulling him away, and that his shadow has been alive and well in the outside world, effectively filling his role. The narrator questions whether he can truly reunite with his shadow and whether it matters which is the real self. The boy assures him that identity is fluid; either version is still himself. To exit the town, the narrator must sincerely wish to leave and blow out the candle in one breath. The boy will remain behind as the new Dream Reader, having prepared for this transition. The narrator asks for time to think, and the candle flame extinguishes, plunging them into darkness.
Key Events
- The narrator experiences a growing sense of internal division, described as a rabbit in a spring meadow.
- He continues reading books in Yellow Submarine Boy’s inner library, finding joy in the formless texts.
- The narrator confides his discomfort to Yellow Submarine Boy during their candlelit meetings.
- Yellow Submarine Boy declares it is time for the narrator to leave the town.
- The boy reveals he has met the narrator’s shadow in the outside world, who is doing well.
- A discussion ensues about whether the real person and shadow can swap roles, with the boy arguing both are equally valid selves.
- Yellow Submarine Boy explains the method of departure: wish with the heart and blow out the candle.
- The boy confirms he will stay and become the Dream Reader, having learned empathy.
- The narrator hesitates, asking for more time; the candle goes out.
Character Development
Narrator (Dream Reader): He is torn between his conscious mind and his instinctive heart. Though he has grown accustomed to the town, he must now confront his desire to leave and reunite with his shadow. His uncertainty reflects a deeper struggle with identity and purpose.
Yellow Submarine Boy: Once a silent observer, the boy now speaks with confidence and authority. He has prepared for the narrator’s departure, developed empathy, and earned the trust of the old dreams. He is ready to assume the role of Dream Reader, showing growth from a dependent figure to an independent guardian of the town.
The Shadow (unnamed): Though absent from the scene, the shadow is confirmed alive and functional in the outside world, effectively acting as the narrator’s replacement.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Heart vs. Mind: The central conflict in this chapter. The narrator’s heart behaves like a wild rabbit or a bird, leading him toward leave-taking, while his mind struggles to understand and control it.
The Walled Town and Leaving: The wall symbolizes constraint and safety. The possibility of leaving via a simple wish and candle blow underscores the power of inner conviction over physical barriers.
Identity and the Shadow: The discussion about whether the real self and shadow can swap roles questions the nature of identity. The boy suggests that either version is equally valid, foreshadowing the narrator’s eventual reintegration.
The Candle: A recurring motif representing the fragile boundary between consciousness and the unconscious. Blowing it out becomes the act of transition.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 70 marks a turning point in the novel. The narrator is explicitly told he must leave the town, and the method for doing so is revealed. It clarifies the relationship between the narrator, his shadow, and Yellow Submarine Boy, while also setting up the climax where the narrator must decide whether to follow his heart. The chapter deepens the themes of duality and choice, raising questions about what it means to be real.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What physical and emotional signs does the narrator experience before learning he must leave?
He feels a hard lump in his throat, ringing ears, and a sense that his heart has become a free-spirited rabbit moving against his will. These symptoms indicate his subconscious urge to depart.
2. Why does Yellow Submarine Boy believe the town will accept him as the new Dream Reader?
He has been preparing for this role by learning empathy and gaining the trust of the old dreams. He argues the town needs a Dream Reader to function, and the wall will adapt to him.
3. How does the boy explain the relationship between the real self and the shadow?
He states that sometimes they trade places and roles, but each is the vital other self to the other. It does not matter which is “real”; both are equally the self.