# Harvard explained — The Book of Jade

> Chapter companion for The Book of Jade by David Park Barnitz.

## What happens

The speaker, on his twenty-first year, expresses boredom with everything around him, including the people and professors at Harvard, and longs to escape into the grand world before old age arrives.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ennui and Existential Dread

The speaker declares being 'a little bor’d with everything' and finds his surroundings ridiculous, embodying a sense of existential weariness.

### Vanity of Human Endeavor

The dismissal of professors and the mundane activities of people underscores the futility and triviality of daily pursuits.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker, addressing his tired muse and expressing ennui with his surroundings.

## Key lines

> I am a little bor’d with everything.

I am somewhat bored with everything.

_Direct expression of the speaker's ennui._

> Let us step into the great world ere long.

Let us soon enter the wider world.

_Desire to escape the current mundane environment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se/chapters/part-i-harvard
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se/chapters