National Avenue · Chapter
XX explained
Dan and Lena engage in a tense, silent standoff over Martha's return, revealing the erosion of their marriage.
What happens
Dan and Lena engage in a tense, silent standoff over Martha's return, revealing the erosion of their marriage. Later, Harlan and Martha discuss Dan's Ornaby Addition and the Renaissance, exposing their unchanged dynamic and Harlan's lingering feelings.
Themes in this chapter
Marriage and Alienation
Dan and Lena's silent vigil reveals their emotional estrangement; Lena concludes they no longer care for each other.
Change and Loss
Martha returns home only to find everything unchanged, yet she feels like a stranger; Harlan's old pain for her revives.
Ambition and Failure
Harlan's skepticism about Dan's Ornaby Addition contrasts with the possibility of Dan's success, highlighting themes of ambition and misjudgment.
Characters to notice
- Dan Oliphant
Sits silently writing letters while Lena watches him, avoiding the topic of Martha's return.
- Lena McMillan
Jealous and hostile, she watches Dan and realizes she no longer loves him, only feels jealousy.
- Harlan Oliphant
Debates the Renaissance with Martha, revealing his skepticism and his revived feelings for her.
- Martha Shelby
Returns home and finds herself slipping back into old patterns with Harlan, though she finds him irritating yet fascinating.
- Mrs. Oliphant
Returns from welcoming Martha home, tactfully silencing her husband's loud remarks near the library.
- Mr. Shelby
Mentioned as Martha's father, who did not keep her informed of home news.
Key passages
“I’d like to have you go with me. She’s an old friend of mine and all our family; she’s been away a long time, and it wouldn’t look very cordial not to—”
Dan asks Lena to join him in welcoming Martha home, citing family friendship and courtesy.
Dan's request triggers Lena's jealousy and the ensuing marital tension.
“A fine reason for not leaving a man!”
Lena realizes that her only remaining attachment to Dan is jealousy, not love.
This marks a turning point in Lena's self-awareness about the marriage.
“You go away and stay forever and ever; then you come back home and by the time your trunk’s unpacked you’re ready to wonder if you’ve been away at all;—maybe you’ve just had a long dream.”
Martha reflects on how returning home feels surreal, as if her time abroad was a dream.
Highlights the theme of change and loss, as Martha struggles with the passage of time.
“You’re the only person I ever heard of that criticized the Renaissance. You’re all wrong, of course, even if I can’t prove it. You’re too much for me, but that’s only because you’re such an admirable bookworm.”
Martha tells Harlan his critique of the Renaissance is unique but wrong, calling him a bookworm.
Reveals Martha's admiration and irritation with Harlan's intellectualism.