# VII explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

The narrator observes his roommate, Elliott, who is a talented hitter but behaves erratically. Elliott receives a letter from his girlfriend in Muskegon but tears it up unread. He expresses his desire to join the New York club to earn World Series money, and after a bizarre incident at the plate where he deliberately strikes out to get McGraw's attention, he is sold to Atlanta. Elliott reacts with despair, crying, smashing a mirror, and smearing blood on the narrator's face before leaving.

## Themes in this chapter

### Disillusionment and Failure

Elliott's dream of playing in the World Series and marrying his girl collapses when he is sold to Atlanta, leading to a breakdown.

### Alcohol and Escapism

Though not directly about alcohol, Elliott's erratic behavior and emotional outbursts reflect a desire to escape his situation.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Elliott

The roommate who is a powerful hitter but behaves erratically; he tears up a letter from his girlfriend, tries to join New York, and is sold to Atlanta.

### John McGraw

Manager of the New York club; he refuses to take Elliott after the deliberate strikeout, saying he had enough of Charlie Faust.

### Connie Mack

Mentioned as 'Mac' who sends for Matty and later tells about Elliott's proposal to join New York.

## Key lines

> I give him his letter, which was addressed in a girl’s writin’ and come from Muskegon. “From the girl?” I says. “Yes,” he says; and, without openin’ it, he tore it up and throwed it out the window.

I handed him the letter from his girl in Muskegon, but he tore it up without reading it and tossed it out the window.

_Shows Elliott's disregard for his girlfriend's letters._

> “I’m goin’ to play with New York,” he says, “so’s I can get the World’s Series dough.”

He declared he would join New York to earn World Series money.

_Elliott's motivation is purely financial._

> Then he sits down on the bed and begins to cry like a baby. “No series dough for me,” he blubbers, “and no weddin’ bells! My girl’ll die when she hears about it!”

He sat on the bed and cried like a child, lamenting that he would miss the series money and the wedding, and that his girl would be devastated.

_Elliott's emotional breakdown after being sold._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters