# XIII explained — Oil!

> Chapter companion for Oil! by Upton Sinclair.

## What happens

Bunny watches a propaganda film called 'The Devil's Deputy' starring Vee Tracy, which portrays a romanticized and anti-Bolshevik version of Russia. He recognizes the gestures and kisses rehearsed on him, and he comforts Vee during the screening, using a formula she had used before.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Truth

The film is a blatant propaganda piece, and Bunny's response ('It will sell') acknowledges the manipulation of truth for commercial and political ends.

### War and Imperialism

The film glorifies American military intervention in Russia, depicting the Navy as heroic saviors against the Bolshevik threat.

## Character check-ins

### Bunny Ross

Watches the film and holds Vee's hand, offering a formulaic compliment.

### Vee Tracy

The star of the film, playing the grand duchess; she seeks reassurance from Bunny.

### Annabelle Ames

Referenced as the person Vee previously used the same formula with.

## Key lines

> Is it so very bad?

Vee asks Bunny if the film is terrible.

_Vee seeks Bunny's opinion on the quality of the propaganda film._

> It is up to standard. It will sell.

Bunny says the film meets typical expectations and will be commercially successful.

_Bunny uses a formulaic response that Vee had previously used with Annabelle Ames._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/oil_se/chapters/xiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/oil_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/oil_se/chapters