XVII explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Artistic Ambition and Creative Struggle

  Vance receives a career opportunity from The Hour, reflecting his ongoing struggle to establish himself as a writer.

• The American Dream and Its Disillusionment

  Vance feels alienated in Euphoria and sees his grandfather's decline, contrasting the promise of success with the reality of life.

• Love and Marriage

  Vance's reconnection with Laura Lou and his kiss, set against her apparent engagement to Bunty Hayes, explores romantic tension.

Characters to notice

• Vance Weston

  Receives a letter from The Hour, decides to go to New York, and reconnects with Laura Lou on the train.

• Laura Lou

  Vance meets her on the train; she is now grown and lovely, and he kisses her despite her apparent engagement to Bunty Hayes.

• Pearl

  Vance's elder sister, who brings him the letter from The Hour and is prying and investigating.

• Mrs. Lorin Weston

  Vance's mother, who complains about the household routine and the Slovak girl.

• Grandpa Scrimser

  Now paralyzed and living with the Westons after his stroke; Vance reflects on his changed feelings toward him.

• Grandma Scrimser

  Living with the Westons, reading Spirit Light, and asking about the letter.

Key passages

• “One raw autumn evening when Vance came in, tired and dispirited, from the office of the Free Speaker, his elder sister, Pearl, who was always prying and investigating, bounced out into the hall with: 'Here's a letter for you from a New York magazine.'”

  On a cold autumn evening, Vance returned from work exhausted and discouraged, and his nosy sister Pearl excitedly told him he had a letter from a New York magazine.

  Introduces the pivotal letter from The Hour.

• “Another story on the lines of 'One Day'—that was what first struck him. He read the phrase over several times; then, involuntarily, he turned and glanced at the marionette with its wires cut that cowered in the armchair by the radiator.”

  The phrase 'another story on the lines of One Day' caught his attention, and he looked at his paralyzed grandfather, realizing the painful source of his inspiration.

  Vance connects his creative success to his grandfather's suffering.

• “He was looking at her intently and she did not avert her gaze; but a light like a rosy reflection stole from her throat to her temples. 'Of course it was,' he triumphed. 'Why, you're like a tropical shell with the sun shining through it,' he cried; and she answered: 'Oh, Vance, you always did say such killing things. I'll die laughing if you don't quit.'”

  Vance gazed at Laura Lou, who blushed as he recalled she had put lilac on his pillow years ago, and he compared her to a tropical shell, making her laugh.

  Vance and Laura Lou's romantic reconnection on the train.