# Wasted Sympathy explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

Booth, a songwriter, is awakened by a call from Mr. Rose demanding a new second-act curtain. He struggles to create a song, but discovers it is a hymn he heard at a rehearsal. Frustrated, he observes a woman across the courtyard, assuming she is alone, but later sees a man with her, realizing she is married. He feels resentful and wastes his sympathy, ultimately failing to create the curtain and ending up in a drunken state.

## Themes in this chapter

### Celebrity and Artistic Integrity

Booth's struggle to create an original song while inadvertently borrowing a hymn highlights the tension between commercial demands and artistic originality.

### Alcohol and Escapism

Booth's drinking, especially after realizing the woman is married, serves as an escape from his creative frustration and emotional disappointment.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Booth

The protagonist, a songwriter struggling to create a second-act curtain, feeling resentful and wasting sympathy on a woman he observes.

### Mr. Rose

The producer who calls Booth, demanding a new curtain and rejecting the song idea.

### Walter Donaldson

Referred to as Mr. Youmans, a composer Booth calls to verify the tune, identifying it as a hymn from a rehearsal.

## Key lines

> A girl that’s married may not be having a good time, but at least she isn’t alone.

A married woman might not be happy, but she has companionship.

_Booth's rationalization about the woman's situation, reflecting his own loneliness._

> It will be all the better,” he thought, “if I can get some silly, incongruous words to such a pretty melody as this.

He thought the song would be improved by adding humorous, mismatched lyrics to the beautiful tune.

_Booth's creative process, seeking to juxtapose the melody with comedic words._

## Links

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