Plum Bun · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Plum Bun by Jessie Redmon Fauset.
Chapter 1
Epigraph
The epigraph presents a nursery rhyme about going to market to buy a plum bun and returning home, which serves as a thematic prelude to the novel's exploration of markets—both literal and social—and the transactions of identity and belonging.
Chapter 2
Dedication
The author dedicates the book to her parents, Redmon and Anna Fauset.
Chapter 3
Plum Bun
The chapter follows Angela Murray as she navigates her life in New York, passing as white and exploring her ambitions in art and love. She meets Anthony Cross, a fellow artist, and grapples with her identity, relationships, and the tension between personal freedom and racial loyalty.
Chapter 4
Home
The chapter explores the concept of home through the Murray family's life on Opal Street, highlighting the tension between their comfortable domestic life and the racial realities that shape their existence. Mattie's Saturday excursions with Angela provide a glimpse into the family's navigation of identity and belonging.
Chapter 5
I
Angela Murray wins the John T. Stewart Prize for her painting 'Fourteenth Street Types' and plans to study in France with her classmate Miss Powell, who has won the Nehemiah Sloan Prize. However, the American Committee for the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts revokes Miss Powell's scholarship and passage money because she is Black. Angela, who has been passing as white, is outraged. When reporters come to pressure Miss Powell, Angela impulsively reveals that she too is Black. She then seeks comfort from her sister Jinny and later attends a committee meeting where Anthony Cross, also revealed to be Black, defends Miss Powell's decision to withdraw from the fight.
Chapter 6
II
Angela visits Matthew Henson in Philadelphia before sailing to France. She is denied entry to her childhood home by the current occupant, who calls her 'poor white trash.' Matthew comforts her, and they share a meal. Angela reflects on home and family, and learns that Matthew once loved Virginia. She encourages him to pursue Virginia, while preparing for her departure.
Chapter 7
III
Angela spends her first six months in Paris, grappling with homesickness and the loss of youthful optimism. She immerses herself in her art studies, receives a surprise Christmas visit from Anthony Cross, and reflects on her strained relationships with Virginia and Matthew.
Chapter 8
IV
Angela reflects on her relationship with Anthony Cross and her own selfishness. She recalls Anthony's harrowing story of his father's lynching and his mother's subsequent fear of Black people. Anthony confesses his love for Angela but insists they have no future due to his race. After he abruptly sends her away, Angela searches for him, finding his address in her old prayer book and going to his apartment on 114th Street.
Chapter 9
V
Angela, reeling from Anthony's rejection, devises a plan to reveal her true racial identity to him, hoping to bridge the gap between them. She visits his Harlem apartment, confesses she is colored, and learns that Anthony has also been passing. However, the revelation deepens their crisis rather than resolving it, as Anthony reveals a painful secret that makes their union seem even more impossible. The chapter explores themes of racial passing, sacrifice, and the devastating consequences of deception.
Chapter 10
Chapter VI
Angela reflects on her past relationships with Roger and Anthony, feeling like a battle-scarred veteran. She reconnects with her racial identity, spending time in Harlem with Virginia and friends, observing the community's resilience and pride. She resumes her painting at Cooper Union and develops a deep friendship with Ralph Ashley, who holds progressive views on race. Through conversations and experiences, Angela grapples with themes of belonging, sacrifice, and the complexities of racial passing.
Chapter 11
Market
The chapter depicts the vibrant and bustling atmosphere of a market, likely a setting where characters interact, observe, and engage in the social and economic exchanges that define their community.
Chapter 12
I
Angela Murray wins the John T. Stewart Prize for her painting 'Fourteenth Street Types' and plans to study in France with her classmate Miss Powell, who has won the Nehemiah Sloan Prize. However, the American Committee for the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts revokes Miss Powell's scholarship and passage money because she is Black. Angela, who has been passing as white, is outraged. When reporters come to pressure Miss Powell, Angela impulsively reveals that she too is Black. She then seeks comfort from her sister Jinny and later attends a committee meeting where Anthony Cross, also revealed to be Black, defends Miss Powell's decision to withdraw from the fight.
Chapter 13
II
Angela visits Matthew Henson in Philadelphia before sailing to France. She is denied entry to her childhood home by the current occupant, who calls her 'poor white trash.' Matthew comforts her, and they share a meal. Angela reflects on home and family, and learns that Matthew once loved Virginia. She encourages him to pursue Virginia, while preparing for her departure.
Chapter 14
III
Angela spends her first six months in Paris, grappling with homesickness and the loss of youthful optimism. She immerses herself in her art studies, receives a surprise Christmas visit from Anthony Cross, and reflects on her strained relationships with Virginia and Matthew.
Chapter 15
IV
Angela reflects on her relationship with Anthony Cross and her own selfishness. She recalls Anthony's harrowing story of his father's lynching and his mother's subsequent fear of Black people. Anthony confesses his love for Angela but insists they have no future due to his race. After he abruptly sends her away, Angela searches for him, finding his address in her old prayer book and going to his apartment on 114th Street.
Chapter 16
V
Angela, reeling from Anthony's rejection, devises a plan to reveal her true racial identity to him, hoping to bridge the gap between them. She visits his Harlem apartment, confesses she is colored, and learns that Anthony has also been passing. However, the revelation deepens their crisis rather than resolving it, as Anthony reveals a painful secret that makes their union seem even more impossible. The chapter explores themes of racial passing, sacrifice, and the devastating consequences of deception.
Chapter 17
Chapter VI
Angela reflects on her past relationships with Roger and Anthony, feeling like a battle-scarred veteran. She reconnects with her racial identity, spending time in Harlem with Virginia and friends, observing the community's resilience and pride. She resumes her painting at Cooper Union and develops a deep friendship with Ralph Ashley, who holds progressive views on race. Through conversations and experiences, Angela grapples with themes of belonging, sacrifice, and the complexities of racial passing.
Chapter 18
VII
Angela and Virginia have a tense reunion in New York, marked by their first quarrel over Angela's relationship with Roger Fielding and her decision to pass as white. Virginia confronts Angela about cutting her at the station, leading to a painful argument about race, loyalty, and their diverging paths. Despite the rift, Virginia ultimately offers a measured understanding, and they part with unresolved tension.
Chapter 19
Plum Bun
The chapter follows Angela Murray as she navigates her life in New York, passing as white and exploring her ambitions in art and love. She meets Anthony Cross, a fellow artist, and grapples with her identity, relationships, and the tension between personal freedom and racial loyalty.
Chapter 20
I
Angela Murray wins the John T. Stewart Prize for her painting 'Fourteenth Street Types' and plans to study in France with her classmate Miss Powell, who has won the Nehemiah Sloan Prize. However, the American Committee for the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts revokes Miss Powell's scholarship and passage money because she is Black. Angela, who has been passing as white, is outraged. When reporters come to pressure Miss Powell, Angela impulsively reveals that she too is Black. She then seeks comfort from her sister Jinny and later attends a committee meeting where Anthony Cross, also revealed to be Black, defends Miss Powell's decision to withdraw from the fight.
Chapter 21
II
Angela visits Matthew Henson in Philadelphia before sailing to France. She is denied entry to her childhood home by the current occupant, who calls her 'poor white trash.' Matthew comforts her, and they share a meal. Angela reflects on home and family, and learns that Matthew once loved Virginia. She encourages him to pursue Virginia, while preparing for her departure.
Chapter 22
III
Angela spends her first six months in Paris, grappling with homesickness and the loss of youthful optimism. She immerses herself in her art studies, receives a surprise Christmas visit from Anthony Cross, and reflects on her strained relationships with Virginia and Matthew.
Chapter 23
IV
Angela reflects on her relationship with Anthony Cross and her own selfishness. She recalls Anthony's harrowing story of his father's lynching and his mother's subsequent fear of Black people. Anthony confesses his love for Angela but insists they have no future due to his race. After he abruptly sends her away, Angela searches for him, finding his address in her old prayer book and going to his apartment on 114th Street.
Chapter 24
V
Angela, reeling from Anthony's rejection, devises a plan to reveal her true racial identity to him, hoping to bridge the gap between them. She visits his Harlem apartment, confesses she is colored, and learns that Anthony has also been passing. However, the revelation deepens their crisis rather than resolving it, as Anthony reveals a painful secret that makes their union seem even more impossible. The chapter explores themes of racial passing, sacrifice, and the devastating consequences of deception.
Chapter 25
Home Again
Angela returns home to Opal Street after her time in New York, reconnecting with her family and confronting the complexities of her dual identity. The chapter explores the tension between her passing life and her roots, as she navigates familial expectations and her own sense of belonging.
Chapter 26
I
Angela Murray wins the John T. Stewart Prize for her painting 'Fourteenth Street Types' and plans to study in France with her classmate Miss Powell, who has won the Nehemiah Sloan Prize. However, the American Committee for the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts revokes Miss Powell's scholarship and passage money because she is Black. Angela, who has been passing as white, is outraged. When reporters come to pressure Miss Powell, Angela impulsively reveals that she too is Black. She then seeks comfort from her sister Jinny and later attends a committee meeting where Anthony Cross, also revealed to be Black, defends Miss Powell's decision to withdraw from the fight.
Chapter 27
II
Angela visits Matthew Henson in Philadelphia before sailing to France. She is denied entry to her childhood home by the current occupant, who calls her 'poor white trash.' Matthew comforts her, and they share a meal. Angela reflects on home and family, and learns that Matthew once loved Virginia. She encourages him to pursue Virginia, while preparing for her departure.
Chapter 28
III
Angela spends her first six months in Paris, grappling with homesickness and the loss of youthful optimism. She immerses herself in her art studies, receives a surprise Christmas visit from Anthony Cross, and reflects on her strained relationships with Virginia and Matthew.
Chapter 29
IV
Angela reflects on her relationship with Anthony Cross and her own selfishness. She recalls Anthony's harrowing story of his father's lynching and his mother's subsequent fear of Black people. Anthony confesses his love for Angela but insists they have no future due to his race. After he abruptly sends her away, Angela searches for him, finding his address in her old prayer book and going to his apartment on 114th Street.
Chapter 30
V
Angela, reeling from Anthony's rejection, devises a plan to reveal her true racial identity to him, hoping to bridge the gap between them. She visits his Harlem apartment, confesses she is colored, and learns that Anthony has also been passing. However, the revelation deepens their crisis rather than resolving it, as Anthony reveals a painful secret that makes their union seem even more impossible. The chapter explores themes of racial passing, sacrifice, and the devastating consequences of deception.
Chapter 31
Chapter VI
Angela reflects on her past relationships with Roger and Anthony, feeling like a battle-scarred veteran. She reconnects with her racial identity, spending time in Harlem with Virginia and friends, observing the community's resilience and pride. She resumes her painting at Cooper Union and develops a deep friendship with Ralph Ashley, who holds progressive views on race. Through conversations and experiences, Angela grapples with themes of belonging, sacrifice, and the complexities of racial passing.
Chapter 32
Market Is Done
The chapter depicts the bustling activity and social dynamics of a local market, focusing on the interactions and observations of characters within this vibrant setting.
Chapter 33
I
Angela Murray wins the John T. Stewart Prize for her painting 'Fourteenth Street Types' and plans to study in France with her classmate Miss Powell, who has won the Nehemiah Sloan Prize. However, the American Committee for the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts revokes Miss Powell's scholarship and passage money because she is Black. Angela, who has been passing as white, is outraged. When reporters come to pressure Miss Powell, Angela impulsively reveals that she too is Black. She then seeks comfort from her sister Jinny and later attends a committee meeting where Anthony Cross, also revealed to be Black, defends Miss Powell's decision to withdraw from the fight.
Chapter 34
II
Angela visits Matthew Henson in Philadelphia before sailing to France. She is denied entry to her childhood home by the current occupant, who calls her 'poor white trash.' Matthew comforts her, and they share a meal. Angela reflects on home and family, and learns that Matthew once loved Virginia. She encourages him to pursue Virginia, while preparing for her departure.
Chapter 35
III
Angela spends her first six months in Paris, grappling with homesickness and the loss of youthful optimism. She immerses herself in her art studies, receives a surprise Christmas visit from Anthony Cross, and reflects on her strained relationships with Virginia and Matthew.
