The Voyage Out

Another seven years have past. A new character has been introduced. Her name is Sister Bursar. She is a nun and has been finishing with last minute packing for an upcoming trip. She introduces the reader to a new sister that has spent many years in solitary life and in nursing. Her name is Sister Saint Aelphaba. Sound familiar? It is spelt very similar to another name that has been mention throughout the novel so far. Aelphaba is headed on an adventure to the Vinkus, with an unnamed young boy. Aelphaba does not know his name. Maybe she is lying…?

Elphie as she is later given the nickname, keeps to herself during the journey to the Vinkus. She spends most of her time thinking and writing in her journal. She begins to think about the time when Tibbett entered to Home for the Incurables. He ended up dying there, while she lost her job because of her ‘mistakes.’ Could this mean her personal connections and friendship to a male?

Elphie has begun travelling with another group in a caravan. In this fancy caravan, there is a cook with a dog. Hmm… Passive job, with a dog. Sound familiar? Elphie does not get along with the cook. She does in fact become friends with an odd group. This would be bees. Yes that is correct, bees. The other travellers in the caravan are not pleased with her new friends.

“Can this be true?’ asked Igo, with interest.” (Maguire 231)

This quote stood out because, Igo is hinting that there is uncertainty. He is unsure of something. Considering that this is the end of the section of the chapter, there could be an interesting plot twist ahead. Also this characters name is Igo, which is similar to ego, which means: the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought. (Dictionary.com) Does his name help explain how he distinguishes himself from others? The chapter ends off with an interesting conversation on the Kumbric Witches.

"ego." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 02 Nov. 2011. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ego>.