Guests of the Nation

Guests of the Nation Summary | Detailed Summary

"Guests of the Nation" was written in 1931 by Frank O'Connor. It is set in the middle of a war between the English and the Irish. In the opening, there are two Englishmen that have been captured and are being held hostage by some Irish. One of the Irishmen is the narrator of the story and telling of a past event. The narrator, Bonaparte, and another soldier, Noble, were in charge of watching the two Englishmen, Belcher and Hawkins. They were keeping them in a house owned by an old lady. The narrator makes it evident that these two Englishmen were taken care of and that the narrator had come to see them as friends. He was even sure that, if they were left alone, they would not try to escape.

Everyone seemed to like them, including the old woman. The two Englishmen were handed over to the two so they wouldn't be found. Bonaparte found that they were extremely friendly and didn't need much looking after. He makes it clear that these two were like wherever they went. Even explaining how the old lady of the house instantly found she liked Belcher because of his manners.

Belcher was kind and gentle and was the quieter of the two. Hawkins was the talker. Bonaparte goes on to explain that Hawkins and Noble would often have argued about religion and other things. The narrator makes it clear that it was more of friends living together than prisoners and their guards.

The second part of the story starts with telling of a particular evening. They were sitting around playing cards and Jeremiah Donovan; the soldier's supervisor came in as he had many times before. This time he sat and watched for a while. An argument began between Noble and Hawkins about religion and love of one's country and capitalism.

Donovan starts turns to leave as the argument really gets going and Bonaparte follows him out because he doesn't want to hear the argument anymore. It was now that he and Donovan get into a discussion and Bonaparte finds out that the Englishmen aren't just prisoners but hostages. They are to be executed if the prisoners that the English have are harmed. This greatly disturbs Bonaparte because he is so fond of his friends. After this reveal, Bonaparte heads back to the cottage now knowing that his friends will be killed soon.

When he arrives back at the house, he sees that the discussion is still going on. He acts as if nothing is wrong. After a long night of this, they lock up the Englishmen, like usual and go to bed. It is then that Bonaparte tells Noble of what is to happen to their prisoners. Noble and Bonaparte discussed whether the Englishmen should be told and they decided against it. Bonaparte tells Noble he doesn't think that it will come to that because the only way they have to be killed is if the English kill their hostages. Bonaparte spent most of the night trying to figure out how to help the two Englishmen escape but realizes that there is nothing he can do because he would likely be killed if he did anything.

The next day they had a hard time with the information that they were given the night before and the two soldiers were quiet most of the day. Hawkins noticed and tried to figure out what was going on with them. He never suspected what it was that was really worrying him. They make it through that particular day.

The third part opens with the very next day. They are sitting around playing cards and Donovan comes back to the house. Bonaparte meets him outside and asks him what he wants. Donovan says that he is there for the two prisoners because four of their boys had been killed.

Bonaparte and Noble ask what he wants to do. Donovan sys he wants them not to alarm the two Englishmen but they are to go get them and be told that they are being transferred. Noble wants no part so he is sent with another soldier to go make the graves. Donovan and Bonaparte went to get the Englishmen. The Englishmen didn't want to leave their friends and the old lady didn't want them to leave either. In the end, they came away with Donovan and Bonaparte.

They start to the bog where they are going to kill the two Englishmen and Donovan tells them what is going to happen. Hawkins doesn't believe it and argues with them for a minute. Bonaparte makes it clear that this was really hard for him. He liked these guys and didn't want them to be killed.

The last part of the story tells of how the two Englishmen are killed. Hawkins is shot in the back of the neck by Donovan after trying to get both Noble and Bonaparte to help him. Belcher went silently. Hawkins didn't die quickly and Belcher asked that they put him out of his misery. Then Belcher takes a handkerchief and places around his eyes. Again it is Donovan who has to kill them. The other two are upset and refuse to pull the trigger.

The narrator ends by explaining that the old lady figured out what had happened. He then explains how he felt a little lonelier and never would look at things the same way.