Short Fiction · Chapter
The Diamond as Big as the Ritz explained
John T.
What happens
John T. Unger, a young man from a modest family, is invited to spend the summer at the opulent Montana estate of his wealthy classmate Percy Washington. There, he discovers the Washington family's immense fortune is built upon a mountain-sized diamond, hidden from the world through extreme measures, including the imprisonment or murder of visitors. John falls in love with Percy's sister Kismine, but their romance is threatened by the family's ruthless secrets and the eventual arrival of government agents, leading to a dramatic escape and the destruction of the diamond mountain.
Themes in this chapter
Wealth and Decadence
The Washington family's immense diamond fortune leads to grotesque opulence and moral decay, exemplified by the hidden mountain and the imprisonment of guests.
Ambition and Disillusionment
John's initial awe at the Washingtons' wealth gives way to horror and disillusionment as he learns the dark cost of their fortune.
Characters to notice
- John T. Unger
The protagonist, a young man from Hades, invited to the Washington estate.
- Percy Washington
John's wealthy classmate who invites him to his family's secret diamond mountain.
- Kismine
Percy's sister, with whom John falls in love.
- Braddock Washington
The patriarch of the Washington family, who guards the diamond mountain.
Key passages
“The diamond was as big as the Ritz.”
The diamond was enormous, comparable in size to the luxurious Ritz hotel.
The central metaphor of the story, highlighting the absurd scale of the Washingtons' wealth.
“I'm going to show you something that will make you think the world is a dream.”
Percy promises John an experience so extraordinary it will challenge his perception of reality.
Percy's introduction to the secret diamond mountain, foreshadowing the fantastical and sinister nature of the estate.