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War (I), Jan 1915
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Life After Life, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Life, Reincarnation, and Alternate Possibilities
Fate vs. Choice
Family and Love
War and Death
Gender Roles and Expectations
Summary
Analysis
Dr. Fellowes eats Mrs. Glover’s piccalilli, thinking of the baby that he rescued with his surgical scissors. He is disappointed that he has to spend the night at Fox Corner, and wonders why they would name the house after such a “wily beast.” Bridget leads him upstairs to a guest room and says goodnight. He wishes he were at home, next to the warm body of his wife.
Once again, Atkinson uses the scene of Ursula’s birth to set up another reincarnation. In this piece of the episode, Dr. Fellowes himself remarks on the fine line between life and death and the luck that he was able to arrive at the house on time.
Themes
