# XVII: Breaking-Up explained — Banjo

> Chapter companion for Banjo by Claude McKay.

## What happens

After a night of heavy drinking, Ray wakes with a hangover and finds Banjo preparing to leave with wealthy companions for the Riviera. Despite Ray's warnings, Banjo insists on going, leaving the beach boys leaderless. The group disperses: Goosey and Bugsy find factory work, while Ray, Latnah, and Malty decide to go to the vineyards for seasonal work. The chapter reflects on the economic changes affecting the beach boys and the dissolution of their community.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Comradeship

The chapter depicts the dissolution of the beach boys' community as Banjo leaves and the group disperses, highlighting the fragility of their bonds.

### Displacement and Homelessness

The beach boys face economic pressures and displacement as they are forced to seek work elsewhere, reflecting their precarious existence.

## Character check-ins

### Ray

Wakes with a hangover, tries to dissuade Banjo from leaving, and later decides to go to the vineyards with Latnah and Malty.

### Banjo

Leaves with wealthy companions for the Riviera, despite Ray's warnings, causing the group to fall apart.

### Latnah

Proposes that she, Ray, and Malty work in the vineyards to earn money.

### Malty Avis

Sprawled in a corner after the party, later joins the plan to go to the vineyards.

### Goosey

Tired but curious, later joins a gang of laborers for factory work.

## Key lines

> You can carry on sleeping forevah, I'm gwine to leave you-all. I'm gwine away to the Meedy.

Banjo tells Ray he's leaving for the Midi (the French Riviera) with the wealthy party.

_Banjo announces his departure, setting the stage for the group's breakup._

> You'd fo'hgotten it as well as I and everybody did, becausen theah was so many other wonderful things in this sweet poht to take up our time.

Banjo dismisses the orchestra plan, saying everyone forgot about it due to other distractions.

_Banjo rationalizes his departure by downplaying the orchestra idea._

> The beach boys felt the change, for the white crews would not feed them the leftover food.

The beach boys noticed that white crews on ships no longer gave them leftover food, worsening their situation.

_Economic shifts directly impact the beach boys' survival._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/banjo_se/chapters/xvii-breaking-up
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/banjo_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/banjo_se/chapters