A Hazard of New Fortunes · Chapter
VI explained
In the aftermath of Conrad Dryfoos's death, the Marches and Fulkerson leave the Dryfoos home after helping with arrangements.
What happens
In the aftermath of Conrad Dryfoos's death, the Marches and Fulkerson leave the Dryfoos home after helping with arrangements. Mrs. March reflects on her husband's role, while March muses on human endurance and death. The Dryfoos family struggles to cope, with the mother confused and the father remaining to keep vigil over his son's body. The chapter ends with Dryfoos and his wife viewing Conrad's corpse, where Dryfoos breaks down upon seeing the wound.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Generational Conflict
The Dryfoos family's grief is compounded by the loss of Conrad, the son who represented a different path from his father's materialistic values.
Labor and Social Justice
Conrad's death in a streetcar strike and Lindau's injury highlight the violent consequences of labor unrest and social injustice.
Characters to notice
- Basil March
Helps the Dryfoos family after Conrad's death; reflects philosophically on human endurance and death.
- Mrs. March
Shares in the cares of the night; feels proud of her husband's role and rebukes him for his remarks.
- Fulkerson
Assists with arrangements; is cheerful after leaving the house; informs March about Lindau's amputation.
- Mr. Dryfoos
Grieving father who stays to keep vigil over Conrad's body; breaks down upon seeing the wound.
- Mela Dryfoos
Tends to her mother with patience; helps get her to bed.
- Mrs. Dryfoos
Confused and grieving; insists on setting up with the body; later comes down to view Conrad.
Key passages
“We are creatures of the moment; we live from one little space to another; and only one interest at a time fills these.”
Humans live in the present, focusing on one thing at a time, which helps us cope with tragedy.
March reflects on how people compartmentalize grief.
“I suppose that nothing is put on us that we can't bear. But I should think that when God sees what we poor finite creatures can bear, hemmed round with this eternal darkness of death, He must respect us.”
March suggests that human endurance in the face of death earns divine respect.
March's philosophical musing on human strength.
“He broke into a low, wavering cry, like a child's in despair, like an animal's in terror, like a soul's in the anguish of remorse.”
Dryfoos let out a trembling cry of despair, terror, and guilt.
Dryfoos's emotional breakdown upon seeing Conrad's wound.