# XX: Felice explained — Home to Harlem > Chapter companion for Home to Harlem by Claude McKay. ## What happens Jake and Felice reunite after their first meeting at the Sheba Palace. They walk through Harlem, discussing where Felice has been and her work in Palm Beach. Jake takes her to his room, and they plan to be together. Felice goes to retrieve her belongings, and Jake waits for her. The chapter includes Felice's recollection of a violent fight between two West Indian women over a man, and ends with Felice returning to Jake's room with her things. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Exploitation Felice's pragmatic view of relationships and her decision to leave one man for another without guilt, while Jake sees her as a 'prize to hold.' ### Harlem Renaissance Culture The description of the Block Beautiful and the social dynamics of Harlem, including the cabaret scene and the 'dickty shines' neighborhood. ### Masculinity and Violence The violent fight between the two West Indian women over a man, highlighting the aggression and jealousy that can arise in romantic rivalries. ## Character check-ins ### Jake Brown Reunites with Felice, takes her to his room, and waits for her while she retrieves her belongings. ### Felice Reunites with Jake, explains her absence, and goes to get her bag, recalling a violent fight between two women. ### Ray Mentioned by Jake as the one who found him his room when he was sick. ## Key lines > Whar’s we gwine? Where are we going? _Jake asks Felice where they are heading as they walk through Harlem._ > But whar was you all this tur’bly long time? But where were you all this terribly long time? _Jake asks Felice where she has been since their first meeting._ > Why, honey, I don’t lives in cabarets all mah nights ’cause Ise got to work. Furthermore, I done went away that next week to Palm Beach— Why, honey, I don't live in cabarets all my nights because I have to work. Furthermore, I went away the next week to Palm Beach. _Felice explains that she works and was away in Palm Beach._ > I know what youse thinking, honey, but I ain’t in the reg’lar business. ’Cause Ise a funny gal. I kain’t go with a fellah ef I don’t like him some. I know what you're thinking, honey, but I'm not in the regular business. Because I'm a funny girl. I can't go with a fellow if I don't like him some. _Felice clarifies that she is not a prostitute and only goes with men she likes._ > A chappie named Ray got it foh me when I was sick— A fellow named Ray got it for me when I was sick. _Jake tells Felice that Ray helped him find his room._ > No, honey, I done figure he’s waiting still in Sheba Palace, or boozing. Him and some friends was all drinking befoh and he was kinder fulL Ise sure he ain’t gone home. No, honey, I figured he's still waiting in Sheba Palace, or boozing. He and some friends were all drinking before and he was kind of full. I'm sure he hasn't gone home. _Felice explains why she can go get her bag alone, assuming the man she was with is still out._ > She had met the male that she preferred and gone with him, leaving the one that she was merely makeshifting with. It was a very simple and natural thing to her. She had met the man she preferred and gone with him, leaving the one she was just making do with. It was a very simple and natural thing to her. _The narrator describes Felice's lack of guilt about leaving one man for another._ > His mind was a circle containing the girl and himself only, making a thousand plans of the joys they would create together. His mind was a circle containing only the girl and himself, making a thousand plans of the joys they would create together. _Jake's thoughts are solely focused on Felice and their future together._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/home_to_harlem_se/chapters/xx-felice - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/home_to_harlem_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/home_to_harlem_se/chapters