# XXVII explained — Dodsworth

> Chapter companion for Dodsworth by Sinclair Lewis.

## What happens

Sam spends a week with Tub and Matey Pearson in Paris, engaging in a fatiguing but comforting round of dining and entertainment. After they leave for Holland, Sam remains in Paris, brooding over Fran's letters about her time with Kurt von Obersdorf. He feels lonely and hungry for a sweetheart, and one evening at the Select café he is approached by a young American woman named Elsa, who pretends to mistake him for someone else. Sam decides to let her work him, buying drinks and trying to win her away from her companions, but ultimately she leaves with another man, and Sam ends the night alone and cold.

## Themes in this chapter

### Loneliness and Aging

Sam's profound loneliness in Paris, despite his wealth and success, is highlighted as he yearns for companionship and feels abandoned.

### Marriage and Disillusionment

Sam's growing disillusionment with his marriage to Fran is evident as he resents her freedom with Kurt and feels he has been robbed of passion.

### The Search for Meaning and Self-Identity

Sam meditates on what his life is about, questioning his desires and whether he is willing to pay for new experiences.

## Character check-ins

### Sam Dodsworth

Lonely and restless in Paris after the Pearsons leave; broods over Fran's letters and decides to pursue a casual affair, but ends up abandoned by Elsa.

### Tub Pearson

Spends a week with Sam in Paris, then departs for Amsterdam with Matey.

### Matey Pearson

Accompanies Tub and Sam in Paris; her pious admonitions influence Sam's thoughts.

### Fran Dodsworth

Sends Sam hasty notes from Germany, mentioning dancing and spending time with Kurt von Obersdorf.

### Kurt von Obersdorf

Mentioned in Fran's letters as her companion in Germany.

### Mr. Jack Keipp

One of the young men at the Select; Sam sees him as a rival for Elsa's attention.

## Key lines

> He had two hasty, stammering notes from Fran, in which she said that she missed him, which was all very pleasant and gratifying, but in which she babbled of dancing with Kurt von Obersdorf till three a.m.

Fran wrote Sam two quick, disjointed letters saying she missed him, but also rambled about dancing with Kurt until early morning.

_Shows Fran's divided attention and Sam's growing irritation._

> He was almost as lonely as though he were at the Adlon with Kurt and Fran.

Sam felt just as lonely in Paris as he would have felt in Berlin with Fran and Kurt.

_Highlights Sam's isolation despite being in a different city._

> He was hungry as a barren woman, hungry for a sweetheart who should have Fran’s fastidiousness, Minna von Escher’s sooty warmth, and Matey Pearson’s shrewd earthiness.

Sam yearned for a lover combining Fran's refinement, Minna's passion, and Matey's practicality.

_Reveals Sam's idealized and conflicted desires._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dodsworth_se/chapters/xxvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dodsworth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dodsworth_se/chapters