# VI explained — Little Caesar

> Chapter companion for Little Caesar by W. R. Burnett.

## What happens

Seal Skin struggles to sober up Ramón Otero, who drunkenly boasts about his bravery and his love for Rico before finally passing out.

## Themes in this chapter

### Masculinity and Violence

Otero's drunken bravado and boasts about bravery, shooting, and violence reflect a performance of hypermasculinity.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Otero's declaration of love and loyalty to Rico, even if Rico shot him first, underscores the theme of intense loyalty among the gang.

## Character check-ins

### Seal Skin

Tries to sober Otero, stays awake to prevent him from causing trouble, and later carries him to bed.

### Ramón Otero

Drunk and belligerent, singing, bragging, and professing his love for Rico before falling asleep.

### Rico

Mentioned by Otero as the only man braver than himself and as a beloved friend.

## Key lines

> VI Seal Skin couldn’t get Otero sober. She made him eat tomatoes and she gave him a cold bath, but nothing seemed to do him any good.

Seal Skin tried tomatoes and a cold bath to sober Otero, but failed.

_Seal Skin's futile attempts to sober Otero._

> Only one man in the world braver: Rico.

Otero claims Rico is the only man braver than himself.

_Otero's admiration for Rico._

> I would not shoot Rico if he shot me first. Rico is my friend and I love him with a great love.

Otero says he would not shoot Rico even if Rico shot him, because he loves him as a friend.

_Otero's declaration of loyalty to Rico._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-ii-vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_caesar_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters