Babel: Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

In London, Robin, Professor Lovell, and Mrs. Piper get into a cab. Professor Lovell points out the silver bar in the cab’s floor and says the silver makes the cab run faster and safer. London as a city runs on silver. No place had relied so heavily on silver’s power since the Spanish Empire. Professor Lovell says that one day, Robin will be one of the few who understands the mysteries of silver. That is why he brought Robin to London, Lovell says. The cab takes the group to Lovell’s house in Hampstead. Robin’s room is bare except for a well-stocked bookshelf.

Robin and Professor Lovell then leave the house to sign documents. After signing the documents, Robin officially becomes Professor Lovell’s ward, which, Lovell points out, is different from being his son. Robin’s lessons start the next day. He takes Latin lessons in the morning from Mr. Felton and Greek lessons in the afternoon from Mr. Chester. Mr. Chester is harsher and more impatient than Mr. Felton. The classes shape Robin’s routine and create structure in his days. Robin also regularly converses in Mandarin with Professor Lovell to ensure that he retains his grasp of the language.

About three times a week, Professor Lovell has guests over, and they engage in conversations about politics and current events. Robin usually makes himself scarce during those meetings, but one time he overhears the men discussing Canton. Robin walks into the room and asks what they are talking about. One of the men says that Robin looks even more similar to Lovell than the “last” boy. Professor Lovell tells the man to stop talking. When Robin leaves, Lovell tells the man that Robin doesn’t know what the man knows. Lovell doesn’t clarify what he means. After Robin leaves, he studies his face in the mirror and notices similarities between himself and Lovell. He begins to think it’s likely that Professor Lovell is his father.

When Robin has free time, he explores London. He especially loves reading. He reads anything he can get his hands on, including articles, newspapers, and books. He also becomes interested in learning about food. He and Mrs. Piper bond over a shared love of scones. One day, Professor Lovell takes Robin to a store and says he can pick out any book he likes. Robin chooses one. When Professor Lovell and Robin go outside, Lovell asks Robin if it feels good to have a new book. Robin says yes, and the two exchange a smile.

Later that week, Robin is in his room when Professor Lovell bursts in. Lovell angrily asks Robin what he is doing. Robin says he is reading the book Lovell bought for him and that he lost track of time because the book is so engrossing. Lovell says that Mr. Chester is downstairs and has been waiting for close to an hour. Robin shuts the book and gets up to leave. Lovell stops him in the doorway and grabs a fireplace poker. He strikes Robin in the face with it 12 times.

Professor Lovell says that he took in Robin with the understanding that Robin would work diligently. If he doesn’t, Lovell says, then Robin can go back to Canton. Lovell then makes racist remarks about people from China and says that Robin must work hard to “overcome the pollution of [his] blood.” The next day, Professor Lovell acts as if nothing has happened. Mr. Chester, Mr. Felton, and Mrs. Piper also fail to comment on the large bruise on Robin’s cheek. Instead of feeling contempt for Professor Lovell or anyone else, Robin feels grateful that the situation has returned to equilibrium.

Years pass. During those years, Robin studies as much as possible in part to avoid giving Professor Lovell reason to strike him again. He looks forward to the day he’ll finally enter Oxford. And then, one day, Professor Lovell unexpectedly tells Robin that he will start classes at the university in a week.