Chapter Eighteen Summary

Cincinnatus does not sleep. In the morning, he scribbles his final thoughts, expecting his execution any minute. He is filled with fear and at the same time ashamed of his own fear because he believes that death is nothing to fear and perhaps a freeing of the soul. He imagines himself running head first into the wall, but in reality, he sits at the table waiting for the next words to come. Cincinnatus begs his future reader to preserve his words. Time passes. No one comes. Cincinnatus continues disjointedly recording his thoughts. Breakfast comes as usual. More time passes. Cincinnatus realizes that he's been deceived again. There is no execution.

In the mid-afternoon, Marthe rushes into Cincinnatus's cell. She is slightly in disarray. Marthe gives Cincinnatus some cornflowers and complains that it was difficult to get permission to see him, implying...