# XV explained — An American Tragedy

> Chapter companion for An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser.

## What happens

Clyde Griffiths, increasingly desperate for Hortense Briggs's affection, agrees to help her purchase an expensive coat. Hortense manipulates him with promises of future intimacy, and Clyde borrows money to make the down payment, dreaming of finally winning her.

## Themes in this chapter

### Seduction and Betrayal

Hortense seduces Clyde with promises of intimacy to manipulate him into buying her a coat, betraying his trust and affection.

### Social Class and Ambition

Clyde's desire for Hortense is intertwined with his ambition to rise socially, as the coat symbolizes status and desirability.

### The Female Body and Control

Hortense uses her body and sexual allure as a tool to control Clyde, leveraging his desire to extract material gain.

## Character check-ins

### Clyde Griffiths

Agrees to help Hortense buy a coat, borrowing money and hoping for sexual reward.

### Hortense Briggs

Manipulates Clyde into financing her coat, promising future intimacy.

### Louise Ratterer

Mentioned as a friend Hortense considers involving in her scheme.

### Greta Miller

Mentioned as a friend Hortense considers involving in her scheme.

### Thomas Ratterer

Mentioned as a potential source for borrowing money.

### Oscar Hegglund

Mentioned as a potential source for borrowing money and as the suggester of a planned automobile ride.

## Key lines

> As Hortense well knew Clyde was pressing more and more hungrily toward that ultimate condescension on her part, which, though she would never have admitted it to him, was the privilege of two others.

Hortense was aware that Clyde was increasingly desperate for her sexual favors, which she had already granted to two other men.

_Highlights Hortense's manipulative awareness and Clyde's naive desperation._

> She was always keeping dates with other fellows and breaking them or refusing to make them with him.

Hortense frequently stood Clyde up or avoided making plans with him, preferring other men.

_Illustrates Hortense's control over Clyde and his frustration._

> And she liked to think that he was suffering from repressed desire for her all of the time that she tortured him, and that the power to allay his suffering lay wholly in her—a sadistic trait which had for its soil Clyde’s own masochistic yearning for her.

Hortense enjoyed Clyde's torment, knowing she alone could relieve his desire—a sadistic pleasure fed by Clyde's masochistic longing.

_Reveals the unhealthy dynamic of their relationship._

> She might hint that he could loan her enough to buy the coat and that later she would pay him back by degrees (yet once in possession of the coat she well knew that that necessity would never confront her).

Hortense planned to suggest a loan from Clyde, knowing she would never actually repay it.

_Shows Hortense's deceitful intentions._

> He finally went home, dreaming of the day, satisfied that he would have no trouble in bringing together the first payment, if it were so much as fifty, even.

Clyde went home content, confident he could raise the fifty-dollar down payment.

_Demonstrates Clyde's hopeful naivety and willingness to sacrifice for Hortense._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters/xv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/an_american_tragedy_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/an_american_tragedy_se/chapters