51 pages 1 hour read

Walker Percy

The Second Coming

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1980

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Part 2, Chapters 4-5Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 2, Chapter 4 Summary

Will is placed in the retirement community that Marion started, so that he can receive regular treatment for his Hausmann’s Syndrome. The treatments cause dizziness, which causes his golf drive to get worse, but his putting to improve. He plays golf, but cannot drive his car well anymore. Eventually, Will learns that Leslie moved many of his things into the retirement home well before he went to the hospital; Leslie confirms that she knew he was sick and was just waiting for a diagnosis. While Will remains the only beneficiary of Marion’s estate, Leslie behaves as though Will has guaranteed her the money to begin the Peabody Foundation, through which she’ll form more Christian hospitals and retirement communities.

Will observes other people in the retirement home, including a former gardener. The man continues to care for plants even though there is already another hired gardener. Will grows to enjoy watching TV and finds that it’s the only way that his roommates can get along without fighting.

Kitty visits him, but she is furious, accusing him of being sexually interested in her daughter and causing Allison to regress. Kitty is upset that Will knew where Allison was the whole time and believes Dr.