Captain Corelli’s Mandolin: Chapter 25 Summary & Analysis

The Cephalonians begin taking advantage of the fact that the Italians can't read Greek and graffiti all manner of rude messages on buildings. Greek men in the kapheneia make rude jokes about the Italians and, in their camps, the Italians make rude jokes about the Greeks. The Italians feel guilty for invading Greece, while the Greeks are livid they've been invaded. Eventually, the Italians decide that they need to house soldiers with locals. Pelagia returns home one day to find an Italian officer, sergeant, and private in her kitchen. The officer smiles and Pelagia instructs them to wait while she fetches Dr. Iannis.

Dr. Iannis greets the officer in Italian and the two shake hands. The officer is thrilled to find someone who speaks Italian and suggests they could use a translator, but Dr. Iannis acidly refuses. He also refuses to house an officer. After a moment of awkward silence, Dr. Iannis asks if the officer is a quartermaster. The officer is and admits he has access to medical supplies. The men agree that an officer can stay on the premises in exchange for medical supplies.

When the Italians leave, Dr. Iannis and Pelagia vow to be horrible to their officer. Corelli arrives that evening, driven by Carlo. Both men are entranced by the massive olive tree and the quiet domestic scene. Pelagia stands in the doorway with a kitchen knife and Corelli falls to his knees at her feet. Carlo explains that Corelli is always foolish, and Pelagia finds herself smiling at Carlo, who is as big and looks as gentle as Velisarios. Corelli suggests he introduce Pelagia to Antonia as Dr. Iannis comes outside and curtly asks Corelli for a word.

Corelli anxiously insists he was joking with Pelagia, but Dr. Iannis wants to know about a defaced Greek monument--it used to read "to the glory of the British people" and no longer does--and why Greek students must now learn Italian in school. Corelli is wildly uncomfortable and insists he's not responsible for either of these things.

When Corelli learns he's to sleep in Pelagia's bed, he briskly says he'll sleep outside and then request new accommodations tomorrow. Pelagia is alarmed; she runs to Dr. Iannis and asks how she's supposed to make Corelli feel horrible if he leaves. Dr. Iannis insists Corelli stay and cowed, Corelli agrees. He and Carlo stay for an uncomfortable supper and then Carlo drives away. At dinnertime, Dr. Iannis tells Corelli how to heal the hemorrhoids he knows Corelli has and doesn't invite him to the table until he and Pelagia have already begun eating. Dr. Iannis makes sure to point out that thanks to the Italians, the meat pie is meatless. After dinner, the doctor insists on going for a walk despite the curfew.

Pelagia asks Corelli about Antonia. He explains that Antonia is his mandolin. He says he wants to be a musician, and Pelagia admits she wants to be a doctor. Later that night, Corelli yelps and comes into the kitchen to ask about the "weasel" on his bed. Pelagia tells him that she's a "Greek cat" named Psipsina. Corelli attempts to stroke Psipsina but she bites him. He feels foolish and unloved and lies on the floor until Psipsina abandons the bed.