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Chapter 5
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in I’m the King of the Castle, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Property and Class
Childhood
Fear and Psychological Manipulation
Imprisonment and Escape
Nature
Summary
Analysis
Charles walks through the wood, and finds that he likes it. It’s isolated from the rest of the world, and it’s so sunny that everything looks harmless. He notices a rabbit running by. He eats a slice of bread and butter that he has packed for himself.
Although Charles had been terrified to enter the wood, he finds almost immediately that he likes being here. His anxiety and paranoia have disappeared: he doesn’t feel that he has to be looking over his shoulder for Edmund. More generally, he seems to be attracted to the freedom and fluidity of the natural world.
Active
Themes
Suddenly, Charles hears a strange sound, perhaps the sound of an animal. He peers into the distance, and the sound gets louder—it sounds like laughter. Then, he sees Edmund Hooper standing by a tree. Somehow, Edmund has managed to follow him into the wood.
Edmund has followed Charles into the forest without being seen or heard—just one of the many times in the book when Edmund seems almost supernatural in his ability to torment Charles.
Active
Themes
Charles asks Edmund how he knew to follow him this morning, and Edmund jeers that it was obvious Charles would try to leave today. Charles notices that Edmund is carrying his own bag, and realizes that Edmund was telling the truth—he wanted to leave with Charles after all. Edmund demands to know where Charles is going, but Charles refuses to say. He asks why Edmund wants to leave, and Edmund doesn’t say anything—he just smiles.
Active
Themes
Charles begins walking, and Edmund follows. Charles wonders what Edmund will try to do to him, but then realizes that he himself could do anything to Edmund—since, now that they’re in the wood, they’re equals.
Active
Themes
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The two boys walk through the wood, getting sweaty and tired. They hear a sudden sound. Charles notices that Edmund is sweating, and realizes, “there is blood and water inside him.” He’s reassured, in a way, by Edmund’s presence. Charles peers past the bushes and sees the source of the sound—it’s a deer. Edmund admits that he’s never seen a deer before, and Charles realizes that he has “outdone” Edmund. He tells Edmund, “I thought you were supposed to know everything about everything.”
Active
Themes
The deer moves away, and Edmund follows it. Charles follows Edmund, furious that Edmund has taken over the “expedition.” He realizes that, on some level, he’s glad to have Edmund here, even if he’s angry with himself for acknowledging Edmund’s leadership.
Active
Themes
The two boys follow the deer. Suddenly, Edmund stops and asks what’s going on. Charles hears fear in Edmund’s voice, and realizes that he’s leader again. Edmund cries that they’re lost, but Charles shoots back, “Oh, shut up.” Then, suddenly, they hear the sound of two jays flying away, followed by the rumble of thunder.
