# XXI explained — Crome Yellow

> Chapter companion for Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley.

## What happens

In the granary, Gombauld paints Anne's portrait while they engage in a tense argument about her flirtatious behavior. Gombauld accuses Anne of playing games with him and with Denis, which she indignantly denies. The portrait he paints is a maliciously accurate but unflattering depiction of her lazy, expressionless mask.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art and Artifice

Gombauld's portrait of Anne is described as both terribly like and a malicious lie, highlighting the tension between artistic representation and reality.

### Love and Sexual Repression

The argument between Anne and Gombauld revolves around desire, flirtation, and accusations of manipulation, revealing repressed tensions.

## Character check-ins

### Gombauld

Paints Anne's portrait with furious energy, accusing her of playing games and luring him on.

### Anne

Sits for her portrait, defends herself against Gombauld's accusations, and denies flirting with Denis.

### Denis

Mentioned by Gombauld as another victim of Anne's supposed games; Anne denies this.

## Key lines

> The portrait was terribly like; and at the same time it was the most malicious of lies.

The painting captured Anne's likeness perfectly but distorted her character in a cruel way.

_Reflects the theme of art and artifice, where representation can be both accurate and deceptive._

> In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred women are as passive and innocent as the strawberries and cream.

Anne argues that women are typically not the instigators of romantic advances, comparing them to passive objects of desire.

_Highlights the gender dynamics and sexual tension in the chapter._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters/xxi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/crome_yellow_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/crome_yellow_se/chapters