# Dice, Brassknuckles & Guitar explained — Short Fiction > Chapter companion for Short Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald. ## What happens Jim Powell, a young man from Georgia, arrives in Southampton and establishes a Jazz School that secretly teaches the 'younger generation' the arts of dice, brassknuckles, and guitar. He takes in Amanthis, a girl from a Victorian house, who quickly integrates into the local social scene. Despite his success, Jim is excluded from the social events of his pupils, particularly the upcoming Harlan dance. His frustration culminates when he forcibly ejects Martin Van Vleck for giving alcohol to a minor, asserting his authority but highlighting the class divide. ## Themes in this chapter ### Social Class and Inequality Jim Powell, despite his success, is treated as a servant by his wealthy pupils and excluded from their social events, highlighting class barriers. ### Rebellion and Nonconformity The Jazz School itself is a rebellion against conventional education, teaching dice, brassknuckles, and guitar as a form of youthful defiance. ### Ambition and Disillusionment Jim's ambition to build a successful school is undercut by his disillusionment at being socially excluded, leading to a violent confrontation. ## Character check-ins ### Jim Powell Founder of the Jazz School, a Southern gentleman struggling with social exclusion despite his entrepreneurial success. ### Amanthis A girl from a Victorian house who becomes a pupil at Jim's school and quickly gains acceptance in Southampton's younger set. ### Hugo Jim's body-servant, who assists with the school and provides comic relief. ### Martin Van Vleck Son of the 'ashcan King,' a tutoring-school product who antagonizes Jim and is expelled for giving alcohol to a minor. ### Genevieve Harlan One of Jim's first patrons, who takes a fancy to Amanthis and hosts a major dance. ### Ronald Harlan Fifteen-year-old brother of Genevieve, who accepts a drink from Van Vleck and challenges Jim's authority. ## Key lines > Parts of New Jersey, as you know, are under water, and other parts are under continual surveillance by the authorities. Some areas of New Jersey are flooded, while others are constantly monitored by law enforcement. _Opening description of the setting, blending humor with a sense of surveillance._ > He can’t see the hammock from the road⁠—but sometimes there’s a girl in the hammock. The hammock is hidden from the road, but occasionally a girl is lying in it. _Introduces Amanthis in a dreamy, nostalgic tone._ > I regret to say that I never saw Jim Powell’s famous Jazz School in action nor followed his personally conducted tours into the mysteries of Dice, Brassknuckles and Guitar. Unfortunately, I never witnessed Jim Powell's Jazz School or his lessons in dice, brassknuckles, and guitar. _Narrator admits secondhand knowledge of the school's activities._ > His was the position of a golf professional who, though he may fraternize, and even command, on the links, loses his privileges with the sundown. Like a golf pro who socializes on the course but is excluded after hours, Jim is accepted only during class time. _Analogy highlighting Jim's social limbo._ > He caught Amanthis’s eye, fancied he saw a faint nod of encouragement and, with almost an effort, went on: 'I just had to throw that fella out an’ you-all know...' He saw Amanthis nod slightly, which encouraged him to continue explaining why he had to eject Van Vleck. _Jim seeks validation from Amanthis after his violent expulsion of Van Vleck._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/dice-brassknuckles-guitar - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_16_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters