Chapter summaries The Midnight Train Matt Haig

Chapter 99: The Violin – 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

Wilbur and Maggie have reached Venice, specifically Piazza San Marco, at midnight in 1974. The bell tower of St Mark's Basilica tolls, casting vibrations across the square. Wilbur feels he is experiencing the pinnacle of human emotion. He asks Maggie to keep him grounded and to ensure he never fires their loyal employee, Charlie. He also promises to be gentler with his mother and to invite her over on Sundays regularly. Maggie agrees, noting that Wilbur’s mother is always kind to her. A busker nearby plays Verdi on a violin outside Caffè Florian. Maggie takes a photograph and presses into Wilbur’s shoulder. She asks if he worries about turning down a large sum of money. Wilbur insists he will not regret it, despite not knowing the future. He tells Maggie that the only way to learn is to live—a wisdom he attributes to someone not yet born (his future self from earlier chapters). He tosses a coin into the violin case in gratitude. The couple then decide to make up their plans as they go along, walking hand in hand back to their hotel. Wilbur experiences a profound understanding of time: strands of life intertwining past, present, and future, keeping everything alive.

Key Events

  • Wilbur and Maggie arrive at Piazza San Marco in Venice at midnight, 1974.
  • Wilbur asks Maggie to remind him not to fire Charlie and to be kinder to his mother.
  • They listen to a busker playing Verdi on a violin.
  • Maggie questions Wilbur's decision to decline a large sum of money.
  • Wilbur throws a 100-lira coin into the violinist’s case.
  • The couple agrees to improvise their plans for the next day and returns to their hotel.
  • Wilbur gains an insight about time as interwoven strands.

Character Development

  • Wilbur: Demonstrates a conscious commitment to staying present and grounded, asking Maggie to hold him accountable. He shows empathy for others (Charlie, his mother) and chooses a life of spontaneous connection over the certainty of wealth. His understanding of time deepens; he accepts the multiverse of possibilities without fear.
  • Maggie: Becomes Wilbur’s anchor and confidante, affirming his good impulses (e.g., being nicer to his mother). Her playful question about regret reveals her practical side, but she ultimately embraces Wilbur’s newfound philosophy.
  • (Implied) Wilbur’s mother and Charlie are mentioned briefly, signaling Wilbur’s growing awareness of his relationships and his desire to improve them.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Time and the Multiverse: Wilbur has seen one future but now acknowledges an infinite array. The final paragraph explicitly states that strands of life plait together, preserving all moments equally.
  • Living in the Present: The chapter contrasts future anxiety (money) with immediate sensory experience—wine, food, music, the warmth of Venice. Wilbur’s coin toss is a small act of attending to the present.
  • Making It Up as We Go Along: This phrase becomes the couple’s new guiding philosophy, rejecting rigid plans and embracing uncertainty as a creative force.
  • Music as Connection: The violin performance, set in a beautiful square, symbolizes beauty and human effort that demands recognition and gratitude. Wilbur’s donation reflects his respect for such moments.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is the penultimate chapter of the novel, and it crystallizes Wilbur’s transformation. Having glimpsed an alternate future, he deliberately chooses a different path—one that prioritizes love, humility, and spontaneity over wealth and control. His request for Maggie’s accountability shows he understands his own fallibility. The peaceful, magical setting of Venice reinforces the idea that true richness lies in shared experiences rather than financial gain. The chapter also offers the reader a sense of closure regarding Wilbur’s character arc: he is no longer the man driven by ambition and forecasts; he is someone who can make a moment sacred with a simple coin toss and a promise.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Wilbur ask Maggie to “make sure I never sack poor old Charlie”?
Wilbur acknowledges that the future can change a person. He trusts Maggie to hold him accountable to his present values, particularly kindness and loyalty. It reflects his awareness that prosperity can corrupt, and he wants an external check to preserve his best self.

2. What does Wilbur mean when he says, “The only way to learn is to live”?
He rejects the notion that knowledge or safety can come from avoiding life. Direct experience—in all its unpredictability—is the only genuine teacher. He attributes this saying to someone not yet born (likely an echo of advice from his future self in earlier chapters), emphasizing that wisdom travels across time.

3. How does the setting of Piazza San Marco contribute to the chapter’s mood?
The golden light, the sound of the basilica bell, and the street lamps create a serene, almost timeless atmosphere. Venice in 1974 is a romantic, culturally rich backdrop that heightens Wilbur’s sensory connection to the present. It contrasts sharply with the sterile corporate world he escaped, underscoring his liberation.

Navigation