Dodsworth · Chapter
XIV explained
Sam and Fran visit the Café Novgorod on the Left Bank, where they encounter Lycurgus 'Jerry' Watts, a pretentious American expatriate from Zenith.
What happens
Sam and Fran visit the Café Novgorod on the Left Bank, where they encounter Lycurgus 'Jerry' Watts, a pretentious American expatriate from Zenith. Jerry invites them to tea, where they meet Endicott Everett Atkins, a prominent figure in the American literary colony in Paris. Fran is drawn into a cosmopolitan social circle, including a Princess and the enigmatic Madame de Pénable, while Sam feels increasingly alienated and weary of the social obligations of travel.
Themes in this chapter
American Identity and Expatriation
The chapter explores the contrast between American expatriates in Paris, like Jerry Watts and Endicott Atkins, and Sam's sense of being an outsider. Sam feels disconnected from both the French street life and the American colony.
Social Class and Snobbery
Fran's annoyance at Jerry's superior knowledge and her careful politeness to the Princess highlight social climbing and snobbery. Sam's awe of the Princess reflects his own class consciousness.
The Search for Meaning and Self-Identity
Sam broods on the emptiness of travel, feeling that it consists of 'perpetually finding new things that you have to do if you're going to be respectable.' He questions his role in this cosmopolitan world.
Characters to notice
- Sam Dodsworth
Feels gloomy and out of place at the Café Novgorod, but is briefly excited by familiar faces. He is impressed by the Princess but wearies of social obligations.
- Fran Dodsworth
Annoyed by Jerry Watts's superior knowledge of Paris, but pleased by the invitation to meet Endicott Everett Atkins. She is polite to the Princess and attentive to Madame de Pénable.
- Lycurgus Watts
The professional amateur from Zenith, with a whiney voice and affected mannerisms. He boasts of his Parisian knowledge and invites the Dodsworths to tea.
- Endicott Everett Atkins
A portly, dignified American literary critic who resembles Henry James. He speaks measuredly, has no sense of humor, and impresses Fran with his knowledge.
- Renée de Pénable
A mysterious, redheaded woman who seems to know everyone influential. She invites the Dodsworths to lunch, and Sam suspects she is an international spy.
- Princess Maravigliarsi
A high-ranking princess, one-quarter American, whom Sam meets at the Atkinses' lunch. She prattles about Mussolini and the Pope, but Sam wearies of her chatter.
Key passages
“So far as I can see, travel consists in perpetually finding new things that you have to do if you're going to be respectable.”
Sam reflects that travel is just a series of obligations to maintain social standing.
This captures Sam's growing disillusionment with the social demands of European travel.
“Fran is launched, he sighed. At last we'll be gay and cosmopolitan! I wonder how much I'll be able to win from Tub at poker, now that I've had my style of playing perfected by European culture?”
Sam sarcastically notes that Fran is now part of the cosmopolitan set, and jokes that his poker game might improve from European influence.
Highlights Sam's ironic detachment and his sense of being an outsider in Fran's new social world.