An American Tragedy · Chapter
XXVII explained
Clyde is thrilled by Sondra Finchley's growing interest in him, which leads him to neglect Roberta Alden over the Christmas holidays.
What happens
Clyde is thrilled by Sondra Finchley's growing interest in him, which leads him to neglect Roberta Alden over the Christmas holidays. He accepts invitations to social events where Sondra will be present, including a dance in Gloversville and a New Year's Eve party in Schenectady, despite having prior commitments to Roberta. Sondra, while cautious about public appearances due to her family's expectations, encourages Clyde's devotion and plans to include him in her social circle, further alienating him from Roberta and complicating his relationship with the Griffiths family.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Ambition
Clyde's ambition to rise socially is evident as he prioritizes Sondra's high-society invitations over his relationship with Roberta, highlighting the class divide.
Seduction and Betrayal
Clyde's pursuit of Sondra leads him to betray Roberta's trust, canceling their plans and lying about his whereabouts.
Characters to notice
- Clyde Griffiths
Clyde is torn between his attraction to Sondra and his obligations to Roberta, ultimately choosing to pursue Sondra's social invitations.
- Sondra Finchley
Sondra is intrigued by Clyde and begins to include him in her social plans, though she remains cautious about her family's reaction.
- Roberta Alden
Roberta is neglected by Clyde as he cancels their Christmas Eve plans to attend social events with Sondra and her friends.
- Jill Trumbull
Jill invites Clyde to a pre-Christmas dance, facilitating his reentry into high society and his encounter with Sondra.
- Gilbert Griffiths
Gilbert is angered by Clyde's social rise through Sondra's influence, though he and his parents remain inactive.
- Bella Griffiths
Bella is mentioned as part of the group attending the New Year's Eve party in Schenectady, which will bring news of Clyde's activities to the Griffiths family.
Key passages
“The ensuing December days brought to Clyde some pleasing and yet complicating and disturbing developments.”
December brought Clyde both exciting and troubling changes.
Sets the tone for the chapter's conflicts.
“For Sondra Finchley, having found him so agreeable an admirer of hers, was from the first inclined neither to forget nor neglect him.”
Sondra was drawn to Clyde and decided to keep him in her life.
Highlights Sondra's initial interest.
“He was too poor and decidedly too much ignored by the Griffiths themselves, even, for her to risk any marked manifestation of interest in him.”
Clyde's poverty and lack of family support made Sondra cautious about showing her interest openly.
Reflects class constraints on their relationship.
“And now, in addition to the primary motivating reason for all this—her desire to irritate Gilbert by being friends with his cousin—there was another. She liked him.”
Beyond wanting to annoy Gilbert, Sondra genuinely liked Clyde.
Reveals Sondra's mixed motives.
“Clyde, searching for inexpensive Christmas presents in Stark’s for his mother, father, sisters, brother and Roberta, and encountering Jill Trumbull doing a little belated shopping herself, was invited by her to attend a pre-Christmas dance.”
While shopping for Christmas gifts, Clyde met Jill Trumbull, who invited him to a dance.
Introduces the key social invitation.
“And because, apart from his knowledge she had arranged to present him with a new fountain pen and Eversharp pencil, she had been most anxious that he should spend this last evening with her, a fact which she had impressed upon him.”
Roberta had planned to give Clyde gifts and wanted him to spend the evening with her.
Shows Roberta's expectations and Clyde's betrayal.
