Poetry · Chapter
A Meeting explained
In the afterlife, Garfield and Parnell meet in Heaven and discuss a controversial letter that influenced an election, with Garfield revealing the letter's author is also present in Heaven.
What happens
In the afterlife, Garfield and Parnell meet in Heaven and discuss a controversial letter that influenced an election, with Garfield revealing the letter's author is also present in Heaven.
Themes in this chapter
Political Satire
The chapter satirizes political figures and the manipulation of public opinion through forged letters.
Deception and Self-Deception
The forged Morey letter and its author's presence in Heaven highlight themes of deception and moral ambiguity.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
Narrator describes the meeting between Garfield and Parnell.
Key passages
“I trust that the rascally schemer who wrote The Morey epistle, which lost you the vote Electoral, I am not likely to meet?”
Parnell hopes he won't encounter the scoundrel who forged the Morey letter that cost Garfield the electoral vote.
Parnell expresses his desire to avoid the forger in Heaven.
“The person who wrote that mysterious, queer, Bad letter is here—ah, exceedingly here.”
Garfield confirms that the author of that strange, harmful letter is indeed present in Heaven.
Garfield reveals the forger's presence, adding to the satirical tone.