Chapter 31 Summary

Ishmael goes back to his mother's house for the night and, after Helen Chambers goes to bed, Ishmael stays awake to think about everything that his father did in his life. He thinks about how Arthur Chambers ran a tight, fair newspaper and how he was always dedicated to finding the truth. Thinking about this, Ishmael finally makes up his mind to tell the truth about Carl's death. So, he walks over to the Imadas' and shows them the radio transcript as he explains how the ship that passed near Carl's boat could have caused his death.

Chapter 31 Analysis

Ishmael's mother is reading Sense and Sensibility when Ishmael arrives at her house. This symbolizes the fact that she provides both sense and sensibility when she talks to Ishmael.

When Ishmael remembers his father, he also recalls a long list of books that belonged...