The Magnificent Ambersons · Chapter
XXVII explained
George Amberson Minafer encounters Lucy Morgan on the street and tries to inform her of his impending departure for a world tour with his mother, but Lucy remains cheerfully indifferent, masking her true feelings.
What happens
George Amberson Minafer encounters Lucy Morgan on the street and tries to inform her of his impending departure for a world tour with his mother, but Lucy remains cheerfully indifferent, masking her true feelings. After a painful goodbye, Lucy reveals her distress by seeking aromatic spirits of ammonia in a drugstore.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
George's painful realization of his love for Lucy and his decision to leave, believing it is the right course, underscores the theme of sacrifice in love.
Pride and Arrogance
George's pride prevents him from fully expressing his feelings, and his earlier dismissal of losing Lucy as 'no particular sacrifice' is contrasted with his current anguish.
Illusion of Permanence
George's belief that he could easily give up Lucy is shattered, revealing the illusion that his emotional detachment was sustainable.
Characters to notice
- George Amberson Minafer
Sees Lucy approaching and panics, but decides to walk with her; he tells her he is leaving indefinitely, hoping for a reaction, but is devastated by her apparent unconcern.
- Lucy Morgan
Meets George cordially, maintains a light and cheerful demeanor despite her inner turmoil; after he leaves, she goes into a drugstore for aromatic spirits of ammonia, revealing her distress.
- Eugene Morgan
Mentioned as being glum and meeting with Uncle George Amberson in the library; Lucy notes he has not told her about George's confrontation.
- Isabel Amberson
Mentioned as traveling with George on a trip around the world; George gives Lucy her love.
- George Amberson
Uncle George Amberson is mentioned as visiting Eugene Morgan and looking glum.
Key passages
“To his sharp discomfiture his heart immediately forced upon him the consciousness of its acceleration; a sudden warmth about his neck made him aware that he had turned red, and then, departing, left him pale.”
George was embarrassed to find his heart racing and his face flushing, then turning pale, upon seeing Lucy.
Highlights George's emotional vulnerability and physical reaction to Lucy's presence.
“She was a little angel who had fallen in love with high-handed Lucifer; quite an experience, and not apt to be soon succeeded by any falling in love with a tamer party—and the unhappy truth was that George did make better men seem tame.”
Lucy, though good-natured, had fallen for George's arrogant charm, making other men seem dull by comparison.
Explains Lucy's conflicted feelings and the enduring nature of her attraction to George despite his flaws.
“But he began to perceive a striking inaccuracy in some remarks he had made to his mother. Now when he had put matters in such shape that even by the relinquishment of his 'ideals of life' he could not have Lucy, knew that he could never have her, and knew that when Eugene told her the history of yesterday he could not have a glance or word even friendly from her—now when he must in good truth 'give up all idea of Lucy,' he was amazed that he could have used such words as 'no particular sacrifice,' and believed them when he said them!”
George realizes he had fooled himself into thinking losing Lucy would be easy; now he understands the true depth of his loss.
Reveals George's self-deception and the painful awakening to his genuine feelings for Lucy.
“Sagged pretty near to the counter, she was.”
Lucy nearly collapsed against the counter in the drugstore after George left.
Contrasts Lucy's composed exterior with her actual distress, showing her hidden emotional turmoil.
