Oil! · Chapter
XII: The Siren explained
Bunny finishes his second year at Southern Pacific, disillusioned with the institution's dull courses and lack of original thinking.
What happens
Bunny finishes his second year at Southern Pacific, disillusioned with the institution's dull courses and lack of original thinking. He debates returning, finding more freedom at Paradise where Paul Watkins has returned to work as a boss-carpenter and is deeply involved in labor activism, turning the Rascum cabin into a 'Bolshevik nest.' Bunny struggles with his father's relentless focus on oil production and the looming threat of a strike. Vernon Roscoe visits, bringing news of a plan to buy the Republican convention to nominate Senator Harding, which Bunny reluctantly accepts despite his misgivings. The chapter ends with the convention in Chicago, where Roscoe's behind-the-scenes deals succeed.
Themes in this chapter
Oil and Capitalism
The chapter explores the relentless drive for oil production, the economic pressures of the industry, and the use of wealth to influence national politics.
Class Struggle and Labor
Paul's radical study groups, the threat of a strike, and the tension between workers and owners highlight the deepening class conflict.
Corruption and Power
Vernon Roscoe and Dad Ross's plan to buy the Republican convention exemplifies the corrupt use of money to control political outcomes.
Characters to notice
- Bunny Ross
Finishing his second year at Southern Pacific, disillusioned with the institution; debates returning to Paradise; struggles with his father's expectations and his own radical sympathies.
- Dad Ross
Continues to run the oil company, longing for Bunny's interest; defends the oil business as necessary; agrees to fund the purchase of the Republican convention.
- Paul Watkins
Returned to work as a boss-carpenter; deeply involved in labor activism, leading classes and discussions on the class struggle; his cabin is a center for radical thought.
- Vernon Roscoe
Visits Paradise during a heatwave; proposes a plan to buy the Republican convention to nominate Senator Harding; jokes about Bunny's Bolshevik reputation.
- Eli Watkins
Mentioned as having disappeared; his absence is noted in the context of the family's struggles.
Key passages
“He knew that the courses were dull, and that they taught you masses of facts of little importance, and were afraid of new and original thinking.”
Bunny realized the courses were boring, focused on trivial facts, and discouraged innovative ideas.
Bunny's disillusionment with Southern Pacific.
“Much as these workingmen might differ about tactics, they were a unit on the proposition that capital and labor had nothing in common but a fight.”
Despite their disagreements on methods, the workers agreed that capital and labor were fundamentally opposed.
The unity of the labor activists in Paul's cabin.
“It’s a little fund we’re raising, me and a few of the boys, to buy the Republican convention. We’re going to nominate Senator Harding for president.”
Vernon Roscoe explains that he and others are pooling money to purchase the Republican nomination for Senator Harding.
The corrupt plan to influence the 1920 election.
“He entered too easily into other people’s point of view. He saw too clearly why Dad and Mr. Roscoe wanted to buy the Republican convention; and then, a few hours later, he would go over to the Rascum cabin, and sit down with Paul and 'Bud' Stoner and 'Jick' Duggan and the rest of the 'Bolshevik bunch,' and see too clearly why they wanted the oil workers to organize and educate themselves, and take over the oil wells from Dad and Mr. Roscoe!”
Bunny could understand both his father's and Roscoe's desire to buy the convention and the workers' desire to take over the oil fields, showing his inability to take a firm stand.
Bunny's internal conflict and 'softness' as described by Paul.
