Oil! · Chapter
XIII: The Monastery explained
Bunny Ross grapples with the ideological divides within the labor movement, attending a Socialist local meeting with the Menzies family and later dining with film stars at the Monastery, where he encounters the sharp-tongued actress Vee Tra
What happens
Bunny Ross grapples with the ideological divides within the labor movement, attending a Socialist local meeting with the Menzies family and later dining with film stars at the Monastery, where he encounters the sharp-tongued actress Vee Tracy.
Themes in this chapter
Class Struggle and Labor
Bunny's internal debate over capital versus labor and the difficulties of worker solidarity amid factional infighting.
Idealism vs. Pragmatism
Bunny's idealistic faith in labor solidarity clashes with the messy reality of political disputes and personal egos.
Deception and Truth
Vee Tracy's cynical remarks about Hollywood hypocrisy and the gap between public image and private behavior.
Characters to notice
- Bunny Ross
Struggles with the realities of labor factionalism and attends a Socialist meeting; later dines with movie stars at the Monastery.
- Rachel Menzies
Invites Bunny to the Socialist local meeting; appears transformed from a drab fruit-picker to an interesting-looking girl.
- Papa Menzies
Old-time Social-Democrat who argues against his left-wing sons at the meeting.
- Jacob Menzies
Socialist son of Papa Menzies, improved by outdoor life.
- Annabelle Ames
Hostess at the Monastery dinner, transformed from a lemon-colored shepherdess to a duchess in white satin.
- Vee Tracy
Movie star who arrives late to the dinner, known for her fighting tongue and daring conversation.
Key passages
“It had become clear to him that the present system could not go on forever—the resources and wealth of the country thrown into an arena, to be scrambled for and carried off by the greediest.”
Bunny realized the current economic system was unsustainable, with wealth and resources being fought over by the most avaricious.
Bunny's growing critique of capitalism.
“Verily, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the feelings of the disinherited.”
It is nearly impossible for a wealthy person to truly understand the experiences of the poor.
Bunny's awkward attempt to treat the Menzies family to dinner highlights class barriers.
“They were so noisy, and Bunny had such a prejudice in favor of quiet! He wouldn’t expect working people to have perfect manners, he told himself, nor to use perfect English; but did they need to shriek and shake their fists in the air?”
Bunny was disturbed by the shouting and fist-shaking at the meeting, despite trying to be tolerant of working-class behavior.
Bunny's discomfort with the passionate, confrontational style of the radical meeting.
“She selected her dog to match her face!”
Vee Tracy mocked a lady vamp's taste by saying she chose a dog that looked like her.
Vee's sharp wit and cutting remarks about other actresses.