# III explained — Hudson River Bracketed > Chapter companion for Hudson River Bracketed by Edith Wharton. ## What happens Vance, recovering from a severe illness, experiences a profound existential crisis and contemplates suicide, but ultimately resolves to live and begins writing a story titled 'One Day.' He confronts his grandfather, Mr. Scrimser, with a harsh accusation, and later struggles with his family's expectations for his future, feeling isolated and misunderstood. ## Themes in this chapter ### Artistic Ambition and Creative Struggle Vance's desire to become a writer and poet, and his decision to start writing 'One Day,' highlights his creative ambition and the internal struggle between his artistic calling and family expectations. ### The American Dream and Its Disillusionment Vance's profound disillusionment with life and reality, feeling trapped and contemplating suicide, reflects a deep disillusionment with the promises of the American Dream. ### Spirituality and Religious Hypocrisy The mention of Mrs. Scrimser's prayers at the 'Spirit of Service' meetings and Vance's blasphemous writing suggest a critique of religious hypocrisy and a search for meaning. ## Character check-ins ### Vance Weston Vance is depicted in a state of deep despair and suicidal ideation, but he finds a renewed will to live and starts writing. He also confronts his grandfather and struggles with family pressures about his career. ### Mrs. Lorin Weston Vance's mother, who is concerned about his health and dismissive of his literary interests, and who lectures the family about tiring him out. ### Grandpa Scrimser Vance's grandfather, who visits him in the sickroom and is met with a hostile outburst from Vance, calling him a 'damned old lecher.' He does not return after the incident. ### Pearl Vance's older sister, who is practical and discusses family plans, and who moves toward him when he leaves the supper table. ### Mae Vance's younger sister, who expresses a desire to study art in Chicago and argues with her mother about family vacations. ### Vanny Referenced by Grandpa Scrimser when he addresses Vance as 'Vanny' during the sickroom visit. ## Key lines > He was like a captive walled into a dark airless cell, and the walls of that cell were Reality, were the life he would in future be doomed to. Vance felt trapped and suffocated by the oppressive nature of his own reality and the life he saw ahead of him. _This metaphor captures Vance's intense despair and sense of imprisonment by his circumstances._ > The negativeness of death would be better, a million times better. Vance believed that the emptiness of death was far preferable to the pain of living. _This line illustrates Vance's suicidal ideation and the depth of his hopelessness._ > He began hastily, feverishly, the words rushing from his pen like water from a long-obstructed spring, and as the paragraphs grew it seemed to him that at last he had found out a way of reconciling his soul to its experiences. Vance started writing rapidly and passionately, feeling that this creative act was a way to come to terms with his suffering. _This shows the therapeutic and redemptive power of writing for Vance._ > You—you damned old lecher, you, Vance directly accused his grandfather of being a lecherous old man. _This confrontation marks a turning point in Vance's relationship with his grandfather and his own assertiveness._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters/iii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hudson_river_bracketed_se/chapters