The short story is about a loyal dog who follows his master’s orders to keep his lover safe from suitors. The dog performs various tricks to protect his master’s love.
In this blog, I will provide you with all the information related to this literary work. The terms going to be discussed below are:
- Author
- Characters
- Summary
- Themes Explored
- Moral Lessons
- Conclusion
Author
On Guard was published by Evelyn Waugh in 1935. It is a famous American short story in English literature. Evelyn was famous because of his satirical works for book lovers. He is popular because of works like Sword of Honor.
Characters
- The story had the following characters for you:
Millicent Blade
She is the protagonist of the story. The author elaborated on her appearance. She is a beautiful lady with fascinating nose. Many people fell in love with her because of her nose look.
Hector
He was the man who loved Millicent deeply. He left Millicent to earn money and gave her a puppy as a gift to remember him by.
Hector(Dog)
This puppy was named Hector by Hector. It was named to highlight Hector in front of Millicent.
On Guard By Evelyn Waugh Summary
On Guard By Evelyn Waugh introduces readers to the themes of love and loyalty. The plot starts with a girl named Millicent Blade. She was a beautiful lady. Many men fell in love with her nose. Hector was a poor man. He loved Millicent deeply. He wanted to change his lifestyle first. He decided to go to Africa to earn. His friend Beckthorpe suggested Hector cultivate crops. It would take around 9 or 27 years for Hector to get financial independence but this would be too late for him to get Millicent. He thought Millicent wouldn’t watch him for such a long time. He decided to present a gift for Millicent. Whenever she looks at a gift, she will remember Hector.
Hector purchased a puppy from a pet shop and named it Hector. He then gifted the puppy to Millicent. Hector whispered in the puppy’s ear, instructing it to protect Millicent and not let anyone get too close to her. The puppy obediently followed the command and irritated many of Millicent’s suitors. They all ran away. He even bites Mike who wanted to marry M Millicent. He irritates Millicent when she is talking to the man. The puppy played tricks and was successful.
The twist happens when a man named Sir Alexander visits Millicent. Puppy attempted various tricks to make the man run, but he responded with care. Despite Puppy’s attack on Alexander’s farmhouse, he still showed love, impressing Millicent. They both decided to marry. Puppy was going to take the last step to prevent this marriage. He bites Millicent nose. Sir Alexander lost interest in Millicent. This story ends when Millicent remains single. The author left the ending to readers according to their imagination.
Themes Explored
The major themes are:
Loyalty
The Puppy Hector was loyal to his master. He did his best to prevent Millicent from getting married to others.
Love
Hector loved Millicent deeply. He went far to fulfill Millicent’s demands. It showed his true love.
Comedy
The puppy in the story played tricks that teased visitors, creating a funny vibe for readers.
Moral Lessons
This short story offers you these lessons:
- Love should be up pure. It needs sacrifices.
- Animals need to be loved.
- Tolerate pets like Sir Alexander tolerated Puppy actions.
Conclusion: On Guard By Evelyn Waugh Summary
“On Guard” by Evelyn Waugh is a love story about Hector and Millicent. Hector moves far away from Millicent to become financially stable but he gives her a pet as a sign of nostalgia. This pet plays funny tricks, which increases the reader’s interest in the masterpiece.
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