Hudson River Bracketed · Chapter
XXXV explained
At the opening of the Tomorrowist Show at Storecraft's new Fifth Avenue location, Vance and Laura Lou attend the exhibition where a bust of Vance by Rebecca Stram is prominently displayed.
What happens
At the opening of the Tomorrowist Show at Storecraft's new Fifth Avenue location, Vance and Laura Lou attend the exhibition where a bust of Vance by Rebecca Stram is prominently displayed. Bunty Hayes publicly claims credit for Vance's success, causing Vance a mix of anger and amusement. Halo Tarrant and George Frenside arrive, and Halo praises the bust's insight into Vance's potential. Laura Lou leaves with Mrs. Pulsifer, and Vance, preoccupied with thoughts of Halo, walks through the park to process the day's events.
Themes in this chapter
Artistic Ambition and Creative Struggle
Vance's internal conflict between public acclaim and his artistic integrity, highlighted by Bunty Hayes's exploitation and Halo's genuine appreciation.
The American Dream and Its Disillusionment
Vance's discomfort with the commercialized success represented by Storecraft and Hayes's self-promotion, contrasting with his deeper creative aspirations.
Characters to notice
- Vance Weston
Attends the Tomorrowist Show with Laura Lou; reacts to Bunty Hayes's bragging and Halo Tarrant's praise of his bust.
- Laura Lou
Accompanies Vance to the exhibition, wearing a blue hat and amber fur coat; leaves with Mrs. Pulsifer.
- Halo Tarrant
Attends the show with Frenside, praises Rebecca Stram's bust of Vance, and arranges a quiet evening to hear his new chapters.
- Bunty Hayes
Manager of Storecraft; publicly boasts about knowing Vance as a boy and claims credit for his success.
- George Frenside
Accompanies Halo to the exhibition; makes a gloomy comment about the bust.
- Mrs. Pulsifer
Takes Laura Lou away from the exhibition; noted for her uneasiness about a past mistake regarding Vance's short story.
Key passages
“Laura Lou, at the last moment, had decided to accompany her husband. The day was radiant, and treacherously warm for March, and she had put on a little blue hat, of the same blue as the one she had worn that fatal day in the rubberneck car, and a coat with a collar of fluffy amber fur.”
Laura Lou chose to join Vance at the last minute, wearing a blue hat reminiscent of the one from their first meeting and a coat with amber fur.
Highlights Laura Lou's appearance and its connection to a pivotal earlier moment.
“He noticed how people turned their heads as she entered the gallery, as they had done in the fashionable restaurant, and at the theatre, on their wedding journey. Masculine pride flushed through him, and he slipped his arm possessively in hers.”
Vance felt proud as others admired Laura Lou's beauty, recalling similar reactions during their wedding trip.
Shows Vance's possessive pride and Laura Lou's public appeal.
“Why, I should say so. Ever since he was a little kiddie. Why, him and me were raised together, way down on the Hudson River, as the old song says.”
Bunty Hayes claimed to have known Vance since childhood, fabricating a shared past on the Hudson.
Illustrates Bunty's self-promoting lies about his relationship with Vance.
“If only he could tell Halo Tarrant, he thought! He turned, and there she stood beside him, with Frenside.”
Vance wished to share his thoughts with Halo, and then saw her nearby with Frenside.
Emphasizes Vance's emotional connection to Halo.
“It oughtn't to have been done till after I've pulled off Loot , he said, trying to hide his satisfaction under a joke.”
Vance joked that the bust should have waited until he finished his novel Loot, concealing his pride.
Reveals Vance's ambition and self-consciousness about his work.
