CHAPTER 40

Summary

• The chapter starts with the protagonist, Philipose, travelling by train to Madras, India. He arrives at Central Station and is overwhelmed by the variety of sounds around him.
• He is nearly hit by a cart due to his inability to discern between different noises. A white man helps him and advises him to use his ears. Philipose is left questioning his ability to navigate in his new environment.
• Philipose finally reaches the Madras Christian College where he is subject to initiation rituals by the seniors. Despite the initial shock and discomfort, he accepts and starts assimilating himself into the reigns of college life.
• The next few paragraphs reveal that Philipose struggles to understand his professors during lectures. This difficulty, along with his tendency to miss out on important classroom conversations, highlights the character’s growing realization of his hearing impairment.
• Professor Brattlestone, who turns out to be the same man who helped him at the station, addresses Philipose’s issue in a meeting. The professor implies that Philipose's impairment may obstruct his academic progress and refers him to a specialist.
• Although people had always advised him to properly use his ears, only now does Philipose come to terms with his deafness, which he views as a limitation imposed on him by society. The chapter ends with him in a state of fear and uncertainty about his future.