Elmer Gantry · Chapter
Chapter XXVII explained
Elmer Gantry's vice crusade in Zenith leads to convictions and public acclaim, boosting his church's attendance and salary.
What happens
Elmer Gantry's vice crusade in Zenith leads to convictions and public acclaim, boosting his church's attendance and salary. He joins the Rotary Club, delivers a Chautauqua lecture, and visits Reverend Andrew Pengilly, where he boasts of his church's innovations and success.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Corruption in Religion
Elmer's crusade against vice is performative, as vice quickly returns; he uses religion for personal gain and social climbing.
Manipulation and Showmanship in Evangelism
Elmer deliberately mixes vaudeville with hellfire sermons to maintain interest and dignity, manipulating his audience.
Ambition and the Pursuit of Power
Elmer aspires to a bishopric, social status, and national influence, using his crusade and Chautauqua tour as stepping stones.
Characters to notice
- Elmer Gantry
Leads a successful vice crusade in Zenith, joins Rotary, delivers a Chautauqua lecture, and visits Reverend Andrew Pengilly.
- Lulu Bains Naylor
Mentioned as conferring with Elmer on cooking classes late at night.
- Cleo Benham
Elmer considers her priggish and imagines her death; she remains at home while he travels.
- Frank Shallard
Mentioned as having left Andrew Pengilly, contributing to Pengilly's loneliness.
- Mr. Pengilly
Hosts Elmer in his cottage, feeling lonely since Frank Shallard left; idealizes Elmer as a St. Michael.
- Oscar Hochlauf
Receives extra six months for resisting arrest and abusive language during Elmer's crusade.
Key passages
“Vice was ended in Zenith. It was thirty days before any of the gay ladies were really back at work—though the gentlemanly jailers at the workhouse did let some of them out for an occasional night.”
Elmer's crusade temporarily suppressed vice in Zenith, but within a month, prostitution resumed, with jailers allowing women out occasionally.
Highlights the superficiality of Elmer's moral victory.
“The thing is sort of to have other people do the monkey-business, but me, I got to be upstage and not smile as much as I've been doing. And just when the poor chumps think my Sunday evening is nothing but a vaudeville show, I'll suddenly soak 'em with a regular old-time hellfire and damnation sermon, or be poetic and that stuff.”
Elmer plans to let others provide entertainment while he maintains a dignified facade, then surprise the congregation with traditional fire-and-brimstone preaching.
Reveals Elmer's calculated manipulation of his audience.
“Jesus Christ would be a Rotarian if he lived today—Lincoln would be a Rotarian today—William McKinley would be a Rotarian today. All these men preached the principles of Rotary: one for all and all for one; helpfulness towards one's community, and respect for God.”
Elmer claims that Jesus, Lincoln, and McKinley would endorse Rotary's values of unity and service.
Shows Elmer's self-serving alignment of religion with business culture.