# XXXIII explained — An American Tragedy

> Chapter companion for An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser.

## What happens

Roberta's fears are confirmed when she realizes she is pregnant, while Clyde, increasingly enamored with Sondra, becomes more distant. Despite her attempts to reason with him, Clyde is torn between his guilt and his desire to break free from Roberta to pursue a future with Sondra. Roberta, terrified of the social stigma, pleads for his help, but Clyde is ill-equipped to handle the crisis.

## Themes in this chapter

### Seduction and Betrayal

Clyde's seduction of Roberta leads to her pregnancy, and his subsequent betrayal as he prioritizes his pursuit of Sondra over her well-being.

### Social Class and Ambition

Clyde's ambition to rise socially through Sondra drives his callous treatment of Roberta, reflecting the class divisions that shape his choices.

### The Female Body and Control

Roberta's pregnancy represents a loss of control over her own body and life, highlighting the vulnerability of women in a patriarchal society.

## Character check-ins

### Roberta Alden

Discovers she is pregnant and is consumed by fear and despair, seeking Clyde's help despite his growing indifference.

### Clyde Griffiths

Struggles with his guilt and desire to end his relationship with Roberta, while being increasingly captivated by Sondra and the promise of a better life.

### Sondra Finchley

Though not present, her influence looms large as Clyde's infatuation with her drives his neglect of Roberta.

## Key lines

> For exactly as before, though with the usual insistence afterward that there was no real help for it, there continued to be these same last moment changes of plan and unannounced absences.

Clyde repeatedly cancels plans with Roberta at the last minute, offering weak excuses afterward.

_Highlights Clyde's pattern of neglect and Roberta's growing realization of his indifference._

> And although she complained at times, or pleaded, or merely contented herself with quite silent and not always obvious 'blues,' still these same effected no real modification or improvement.

Roberta's complaints and sadness do nothing to change Clyde's behavior.

_Emphasizes Roberta's powerlessness and Clyde's emotional detachment._

> For now, in addition to her own troubled conclusions in regard to Clyde, there had sprung up over night the dark and constraining fear that even this might not now be possible, for the present at least.

Roberta now fears she is pregnant, adding a new layer of terror to her already troubled thoughts about Clyde.

_Marks the pivotal moment when Roberta's pregnancy is discovered, driving the plot forward._

> The stigma of unsanctioned concupiscence! The shame of illegitimacy for a child!

Roberta is terrified of the social disgrace that would come from having a child out of wedlock.

_Reflects the harsh societal judgment faced by unmarried pregnant women in the early 1900s._

> At once she stopped her work between four and five in the afternoon and hurried to the dressing-room. And there she penned a note—hurried, hysterical—a scrawl.

In a panic, Roberta writes a desperate note to Clyde, begging him to meet her that night.

_Shows Roberta's urgency and desperation as she seeks Clyde's help._

## Links

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