The Ruin of Lord Wilmington
At the beginning of the tale, General Feversham is seen depicting the anecdotes which led to the ruin of Lord Wilmington, who had lost everything -his life included- because of his rumored cowardice. While doing so, General Feversham had no idea that the future had the same fate in store for his son, and that similar rumors will be spread about his family in other such meetings.
Ethne’s Conditional “Unconditional love”
Depicted as a tender and loving woman, Ethne Eustace was supposed to give her fiancé the benefit of a doubt, and prove her unconditional love through support when everyone else had deserted him. Although her love was painted in the colors of a strong and passionate one, ironically it proved to be very frail and shaky, for she had left Harry at the first crisis they have met.
The Coward Hero
The story revolves around Harry Feversham and his alleged cowardice. In the eyes of society, he is nothing but a coward who had fled the battlefields out of fear. In truth, however, Harry is the hero who dives into danger headlong just to save one of his former comrades. Thus, the hero of the tale is ironically accused of cowardice.
The Blind Man Seeing Clearer
At one point of the story, Colonel Durrance loses his eyesight because of an injury he received during one of his expeditions. From that moment on, however, he seems to have acquired the gift of seeing things clearer than before. Durrance is thus a blind man who sees through things and people without the need of looking at them.
Unrequited Love
In an ironical situation, Ethne, Mrs. Adair, and Colonel Durrance find themselves entangled in a triangle of unrequited love. Each of these characters seems cognizant of the fact that his/her love is not reciprocated, and yet they go on with their relationship to screen such a deficiency from the knowledge of the other. In the end, they all understand that duplicity would not serve them for long and each walks away from a desperate union.
The Wounded Asking for Forgiveness
Harry Feversham is the character who suffers the most from the injustice of his society and the prejudice of his friends. However, throughout the story, he is the one who wants to make amends and redeem himself in the eyes of other people when, in truth, he is the one who should have been asked forgiveness.
