The Robe of Peace (Henry): Difference between revisions

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👘

The Robe of Peace

1909

Summary of the Short Story

Microsummary: A fashion-obsessed socialite disappeared from New York. Friends found him living as a monk in Switzerland. He chose monastic life for wrinkle-free robes, refusing to return to his former lifestyle.

Short Summary

New York City, early 20th century. Johnny Bellchambers, a prominent socialite known for his impeccable fashion sense, mysteriously disappeared. His friends, Tom Eyres and Lancelot Gilliam, discovered him a year later in a remote Swiss monastery.

👨🏻

Johnny Bellchambers — man, about 30 years old, former socialite and fashion icon in New York, now known as Brother Ambrose in a monastery, meticulous about clothing, especially trousers.

Eyres and Gilliam were shocked to find Bellchambers living as a monk, now called Brother Ambrose. They attempted to persuade him to return to his former life, but Bellchambers refused, explaining that he had found true happiness in the monastery.

'You see this robe that I wear?' Bellchambers caressingly touched the straight-hanging garment: 'At last I have found something that will not bag at the knees. I have attained—'

The quote revealed that Bellchambers' obsession with perfect clothing, particularly trousers that wouldn't bag at the knees, led him to embrace monastic life. His friends left the monastery, unable to convince him to return. The story concluded with Eyres and Gilliam sharing this unexpected resolution to Bellchambers' disappearance with their social circle back in New York.

Detailed Summary

The division of the summary into chapters is conditional.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Johnny Bellchambers

The story began with the unexplained disappearance of Johnny Bellchambers, which had ceased to be a mystery to the reading public and his friends after nearly a year. The solution to this mystery was so incredible that only a select few who were close to Bellchambers would fully believe it.

Johnny Bellchambers was a prominent figure in New York's elite social circle.

Johnny Bellchambers, as is well known, belonged to the intrinsically inner circle of the élite. Without any of the ostentation of the fashionable ones who endeavor to attract notice by eccentric display of wealth and show...

He was particularly renowned for his impeccable sense of style and was considered the best-dressed man in America.

Especially did he shine in the matter of dress. In this he was the despair of imitators. Always correct, exquisitely groomed, and possessed of an unlimited wardrobe, he was conceded to be the best-dressed man in New York...

Bellchambers had a particular obsession with trousers, never tolerating even the slightest wrinkle. His sudden disappearance left no trace, and all methods of inquiry failed to locate him.

Bellchambers disappeared very suddenly. For three days his absence brought no alarm to his friends, and then they began to operate the usual methods of inquiry. All of them failed. He had left absolutely no trace behind.

The Discovery in the Swiss Alps

In May, two of Bellchambers' old friends, Tom Eyres and Lancelot Gilliam, went on a trip to Europe. While in Italy and Switzerland, they heard about a remote monastery in the Swiss Alps that boasted unique attractions: a divine cordial made by the monks, a brass bell that had been ringing for 300 years, and the claim that no Englishman had ever set foot within its walls.

🧳

Tom Eyres — man, young, friend of Johnny Bellchambers, traveler, part of New York's elite social circle.

🧳

Lancelot Gilliam — man, young, friend of Johnny Bellchambers, traveler, part of New York's elite social circle.

Intrigued, Eyres and Gilliam decided to visit the monastery. After a challenging two-day journey with guides, they reached the monastery of St. Gondrau. They were hospitably received and enjoyed the cordial and the sound of the great bell. As they watched the monks file past on their way to the refectory, Eyres suddenly recognized Johnny Bellchambers among them.

🙏

Brother Cristofer — man, monk at St. Gondrau monastery, responsible for entertaining guests.

Shocked by their discovery, Eyres and Gilliam asked Brother Cristofer for permission to speak with Bellchambers. The abbot granted their request, and they waited in a reception room for their old friend.

The Transformation of Johnny Bellchambers

When Bellchambers, now known as Brother Ambrose, entered the room, Eyres and Gilliam were astonished by his transformation.

Upon his smooth-shaven face was an expression of ineffable peace, of rapturous attainment, of perfect and complete happiness. His form was proudly erect, his eyes shone with a serene and gracious light.

Despite his changed appearance, Bellchambers greeted his old friends with his usual grace and ease. However, his attire was drastically different from his former fashionable self.

Now he seemed clothed in but a single garment—a long robe of rough brown cloth, gathered by a cord at the waist, and falling in straight, loose folds nearly to his feet.

Eyres and Gilliam were bewildered by Bellchambers' transformation and urged him to return to his old life in New York. They reminded him of his former lifestyle and the people who missed him. However, Bellchambers calmly explained his contentment with his new life.

'You fellows don't understand,' he said, soothingly. 'It's nice of you to want me to go back, but the old life will never know me again. I have reached here the goal of all my ambitions. I am entirely happy and contented.'

Bellchambers revealed that he had finally found something that would not bag at the knees, referring to his monk's robe. Before he could elaborate further, the monastery's bell rang, summoning him to devotions. With a slight wave of his hand, Brother Ambrose left his old friends, returning to his new life of contemplation and simplicity.

Eyres and Gilliam left the monastery without seeing Bellchambers again, carrying with them this extraordinary tale of transformation and contentment.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{Summary
 | Title = The Robe of Peace
+| Subtitle =
+| Original Title =
 | Author = O. Henry
 | Literary form = short story
-| Year of publication =
+| Year of publication = 1909
-| Microsummary = Two friends discovered their missing friend in a monastery, where he had found happiness and contentment in a simple robe that never wrinkled or bagged at the knees.
+| Microsummary = A fashion-obsessed socialite disappeared from New York. Friends found him living as a monk in Switzerland. He chose monastic life for wrinkle-free robes, refusing to return to his former lifestyle.
+| Emoji = 👘
 }}
 {{Start of text}}
-Johnny Bellchambers, a well-known and wealthy man, suddenly disappeared without a trace. His friends were unable to find any motive or reason for his disappearance, and all efforts to locate him were unsuccessful. Nearly a year later, two of Johnny's old friends, Tom Eyres and Lancelot Gilliam, went on a trip to Europe.
+== Short Summary ==
+New York City, early 20th century. Johnny Bellchambers, a prominent socialite known for his impeccable fashion sense, mysteriously disappeared. His friends, Tom Eyres and Lancelot Gilliam, discovered him a year later in a remote Swiss monastery.
 {{Character
-| Name = Johnny Bellchambers (Brother Ambrose)
+| Name = Johnny Bellchambers
-| Description = former fashionable man; well-groomed; found happiness in a monastery wearing a simple robe
+| Description = man, about 30 years old, former socialite and fashion icon in New York, now known as Brother Ambrose in a monastery, meticulous about clothing, especially trousers
-| Emoji = 👨🏻‍🎓
+| Emoji = 👨🏻
+}}
+Eyres and Gilliam were shocked to find Bellchambers living as a monk, now called Brother Ambrose. They attempted to persuade him to return to his former life, but Bellchambers refused, explaining that he had found true happiness in the monastery.
+{{Quote|
+'You see this robe that I wear?' Bellchambers caressingly touched the straight-hanging garment: 'At last I have found something that will not bag at the knees. I have attained—'
+}}
+The quote revealed that Bellchambers' obsession with perfect clothing, particularly trousers that wouldn't bag at the knees, led him to embrace monastic life. His friends left the monastery, unable to convince him to return. The story concluded with Eyres and Gilliam sharing this unexpected resolution to Bellchambers' disappearance with their social circle back in New York.
+== Detailed Summary ==
+''The division of the summary into chapters is conditional.''
+=== The Mysterious Disappearance of Johnny Bellchambers ===
+The story began with the unexplained disappearance of Johnny Bellchambers, which had ceased to be a mystery to the reading public and his friends after nearly a year. The solution to this mystery was so incredible that only a select few who were close to Bellchambers would fully believe it.
+Johnny Bellchambers was a prominent figure in New York's elite social circle.
+{{Quote|
+Johnny Bellchambers, as is well known, belonged to the intrinsically inner circle of the élite. Without any of the ostentation of the fashionable ones who endeavor to attract notice by eccentric display of wealth and show...
+}}
+He was particularly renowned for his impeccable sense of style and was considered the best-dressed man in America.
+{{Quote|
+Especially did he shine in the matter of dress. In this he was the despair of imitators. Always correct, exquisitely groomed, and possessed of an unlimited wardrobe, he was conceded to be the best-dressed man in New York...
 }}
+Bellchambers had a particular obsession with trousers, never tolerating even the slightest wrinkle. His sudden disappearance left no trace, and all methods of inquiry failed to locate him.
+{{Quote|
+Bellchambers disappeared very suddenly. For three days his absence brought no alarm to his friends, and then they began to operate the usual methods of inquiry. All of them failed. He had left absolutely no trace behind.
+}}
+=== The Discovery in the Swiss Alps ===
+In May, two of Bellchambers' old friends, Tom Eyres and Lancelot Gilliam, went on a trip to Europe. While in Italy and Switzerland, they heard about a remote monastery in the Swiss Alps that boasted unique attractions: a divine cordial made by the monks, a brass bell that had been ringing for 300 years, and the claim that no Englishman had ever set foot within its walls.
 {{Character
 | Name = Tom Eyres
-| Description = one of Johnny's old friends; concerned about Johnny's new life
+| Description = man, young, friend of Johnny Bellchambers, traveler, part of New York's elite social circle
-| Emoji = 👨🏻
+| Emoji = 🧳
 }}
 {{Character
 | Name = Lancelot Gilliam
-| Description = another of Johnny's old friends; also concerned about Johnny's new life
+| Description = man, young, friend of Johnny Bellchambers, traveler, part of New York's elite social circle
-| Emoji = 👨🏻
+| Emoji = 🧳
+}}
+Intrigued, Eyres and Gilliam decided to visit the monastery. After a challenging two-day journey with guides, they reached the monastery of St. Gondrau. They were hospitably received and enjoyed the cordial and the sound of the great bell. As they watched the monks file past on their way to the refectory, Eyres suddenly recognized Johnny Bellchambers among them.
+{{Character
+| Name = Brother Cristofer
+| Description = man, monk at St. Gondrau monastery, responsible for entertaining guests
+| Emoji = 🙏
 }}
-While exploring Italy and Switzerland, they heard of a monastery in the Swiss Alps that was said to be home to a divine cordial, a huge brass bell, and no Englishman had ever set foot within its walls.
+Shocked by their discovery, Eyres and Gilliam asked Brother Cristofer for permission to speak with Bellchambers. The abbot granted their request, and they waited in a reception room for their old friend.
+=== The Transformation of Johnny Bellchambers ===
+When Bellchambers, now known as Brother Ambrose, entered the room, Eyres and Gilliam were astonished by his transformation.
+{{Quote|
+Upon his smooth-shaven face was an expression of ineffable peace, of rapturous attainment, of perfect and complete happiness. His form was proudly erect, his eyes shone with a serene and gracious light.
+}}
-Curious, Tom and Lancelot decided to visit the monastery of St. Gondrau. They were hospitably received by the monks and enjoyed the cordial and the sound of the great bell. While watching the monks march past, Tom suddenly recognized Johnny among them. Shocked, the two friends asked for permission to speak with him.
+Despite his changed appearance, Bellchambers greeted his old friends with his usual grace and ease. However, his attire was drastically different from his former fashionable self.
-{{Quote
+{{Quote|
-| Text = It’s Bell, without a doubt,” said Eyres, firmly, “or I’m pretty badly in need of an oculist.
+Now he seemed clothed in but a single garment—a long robe of rough brown cloth, gathered by a cord at the waist, and falling in straight, loose folds nearly to his feet.
-| Context = Tom Eyres and Lancelot Gilliam spotted their missing friend Johnny Bellchambers in a monastery, and Eyres confirmed that it was indeed him.
 }}
-When Johnny, now known as Brother Ambrose, entered the room, his friends were astonished by the change in his appearance. He wore a simple brown robe and had an expression of complete happiness and contentment on his face. Despite their pleas for him to return to his old life, Johnny explained that he had found true happiness in the monastery.
+Eyres and Gilliam were bewildered by Bellchambers' transformation and urged him to return to his old life in New York. They reminded him of his former lifestyle and the people who missed him. However, Bellchambers calmly explained his contentment with his new life.
-{{Quote
+{{Quote|
-| Text = You fellows don’t understand,” he said, soothingly. “It’s nice of you to want me to go back, but the old life will never know me again.
+'You fellows don't understand,' he said, soothingly. 'It's nice of you to want me to go back, but the old life will never know me again. I have reached here the goal of all my ambitions. I am entirely happy and contented.'
-| Context = Johnny Bellchambers, now Brother Ambrose, explained to his friends that he had found happiness in the monastery and would not return to his old life.
 }}
-The simple robe he wore would not bag at the knees, which had been his greatest ambition in life. As the great brass bell rang, Johnny left his friends without another word, and they departed the monastery without seeing him again.
+Bellchambers revealed that he had finally found something that would not bag at the knees, referring to his monk's robe. Before he could elaborate further, the monastery's bell rang, summoning him to devotions. With a slight wave of his hand, Brother Ambrose left his old friends, returning to his new life of contemplation and simplicity.
+Eyres and Gilliam left the monastery without seeing Bellchambers again, carrying with them this extraordinary tale of transformation and contentment.
 {{End of text}}