The Beautiful and Damned · Chapter
II: A Matter of Aesthetics explained
Gloria, alone in New York after Anthony enlists, grapples with loneliness and reflects on her past.
What happens
Gloria, alone in New York after Anthony enlists, grapples with loneliness and reflects on her past. She reconnects with Rachael Barnes, attends a dinner with officers including Captain Collins, and considers joining Anthony or pursuing a film career, but ultimately feels increasingly distant from him.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Possession
Gloria's letters and longing for Anthony reveal a possessive love, yet his distant replies suggest a growing emotional separation.
Youth and Aging
Gloria, now twenty-seven, reflects on her fading youth and the passage of time, noting her birthday 'fled by scarcely noticed.'
War and Masculinity
The presence of officers, the 'Suicide Club,' and Anthony's enlistment highlight the war's impact on masculinity and relationships.
Characters to notice
- Gloria Gilbert
Alone in New York, she writes letters to Anthony, reflects on her past and friends, and struggles with loneliness and the desire to join him.
- Anthony Patch
Absent but central in Gloria's thoughts; his letters become mechanical and distant, causing her to feel estranged.
- Muriel Kane
Mentioned as a friend who has been shifted to a hospital in New Jersey, limiting their contact.
- Rachael Barnes
Gloria meets her on Fifth Avenue; they reconcile and attend a dinner with two officers.
- Captain Collins
A chubby, pink-faced officer who takes a fancy to Gloria at dinner and later becomes overly familiar.
- Mr. Haight
Gloria's lawyer, who advises her to postpone joining Anthony due to the pending lawsuit.
Key passages
“No, the fallow squares of earth will be most frequent—they’ll be along beside the track like dirty coarse brown sheets drying in the sun, alive, mechanical, abominable.”
The barren fields alongside the railway resemble ugly, sun-dried sheets, both alive and repulsive.
Gloria's letter to Anthony expresses contempt and despair, blending natural imagery with emotional turmoil.
“She had immutable faith that the war would be over before he was called upon to fight, and meanwhile the suit would be won, and they could begin again, this time on a different basis.”
She firmly believed the war would end before Anthony had to fight, and that the inheritance lawsuit would be resolved, allowing them a fresh start.
Gloria's hope for a better future contrasts with her growing loneliness and doubts about Anthony.
“She jumped to the solution, rejected it, was angry and depressed by turns—finally she shut her mind to it proudly, and allowed an increasing coolness to creep into her end of the correspondence.”
She considered the possibility that Anthony was being unfaithful, dismissed it, and then grew angry and sad, eventually becoming more distant in her letters.
Gloria's pride and suspicion lead to emotional withdrawal from Anthony.