National Avenue · Chapter
XXV explained
Dan Oliphant's father dies while Lena and Henry are abroad.
What happens
Dan Oliphant's father dies while Lena and Henry are abroad. Lena returns after a prolonged stay, looking younger than ever, but refuses to visit the new house Dan is building. Henry, now fifteen, smokes openly and shows indifference to his father's affections, revealing a growing distance between them. Lena contemplates leaving Dan, a thought she has harbored since Martha's return from Italy.
Themes in this chapter
Marriage and Alienation
Lena's prolonged absence and refusal to engage with Dan's new house highlight the emotional distance in their marriage; she privately considers leaving him.
Generation and Legacy
Dan struggles to connect with Henry, who smokes openly and shows little interest in his father's world, contrasting with Dan's own fearful respect for his father.
Home and Belonging
The new house symbolizes Dan's aspirations, but Lena's reluctance and Henry's indifference suggest a lack of shared belonging.
Characters to notice
- Dan Oliphant
Grieves his father's death, struggles with Lena's independence and Henry's aloofness, and tries to connect with his son through forced joviality.
- Lena McMillan
Returns from Europe looking rejuvenated, avoids visiting the new house, and privately considers leaving Dan.
- Harlan Oliphant
Mentioned as a rival to George for Martha's attention; Lena jokingly warns him that Martha still hopes Dan will be a widower.
- Martha Shelby
Lena speculates that Martha still hopes to marry Dan if Lena leaves him.
- Henry Daniel
Returns from Europe with his mother, smokes openly, shows boredom with his father's affection, and asks for his own car.
- George McMillan
Mentioned as a portly bachelor of forty who half-seriously courts Martha.
Key passages
“It seems to me pretty near a disgrace for parents to carry their children all over Europe and pay no attention to the greatest natural wonders in the world, right here at home.”
Dan thinks it's shameful that parents take their kids to Europe but ignore America's own natural wonders.
Dan expresses his patriotic frustration with Lena's travel choices.
“Ridiculous old beast!”
Lena calls Martha a ridiculous old creature.
Lena's dismissive but not bitter view of Martha's lingering hopes regarding Dan.
“I suppose she does still hope it, poor old thing! She thinks maybe, if I leave him—”
Lena speculates that Martha still hopes to marry Dan if Lena leaves him.
Lena's compassionate yet detached thought about Martha's possible intentions.