Flight · Chapter
IX explained
Mimi struggles with her promise to Hilda and her growing feelings for Carl, who avoids her after their breakup.
What happens
Mimi struggles with her promise to Hilda and her growing feelings for Carl, who avoids her after their breakup. Hilda suffers from unrequited love and suspicion. Mimi confronts Carl at church, where he reveals his inner turmoil and rejection of societal expectations.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Compromise
Mimi's growing feelings for Carl conflict with her promise to Hilda, illustrating the compromises and sacrifices love demands.
Gender and Sexual Double Standards
Carl's behavior is judged harshly, while Mimi's innocence and lack of understanding of 'deviations' highlight the double standards in sexual knowledge and behavior.
Characters to notice
- Mimi Daquin
Mimi feels resentment and confusion over Carl's avoidance, while her interest in him grows. She confronts him at church, showing her determination and vulnerability.
- Carl Hunter
Carl avoids Mimi after their breakup, but at church he reveals his inner conflict, admitting he never wanted to be an insurance man and that he was happy with Mimi.
- Hilda Adams
Hilda waits in vain for Carl's interest, experiencing hope, despair, and self-castigation. She suspects Mimi of not keeping her promise, but later regrets her distrust.
- Mrs. Hunter
Mrs. Hunter pleads with Mimi to help save Carl, crying and begging her to ask him to visit again, showing her desperation.
Key passages
“She felt impatience with Carl coming over her. She was not puritanical by nature but Carl’s rapid succumbing to temptation vexed her, he was destroying the ideal she had created in her mind of which he was the embodiment.”
Mimi grew annoyed with Carl for giving in to temptation, which shattered the perfect image she had of him.
Mimi's disappointment in Carl's behavior reflects her idealized view of him.
“The very indefiniteness of the danger that threatened Carl made it all the more terrifying and horrific.”
The vague nature of the threat to Carl made it even more frightening for Mimi.
Mimi's fear is amplified by the unknown.
“Tartarus itself nor the Spanish inquisition contained such instruments of torture as those with which unrequited love can flagellate its victims, Hilda learned, and her unhappiness was not lessened by her lack of one in whom she could confide.”
Hilda felt that unrequited love was worse than any torture, and she had no one to confide in to ease her pain.
Hilda's suffering is intense and isolating.