# Chapter XXXIV explained — The Magnificent Ambersons

> Chapter companion for The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington.

## What happens

George avoids the wealthy northern suburbs, haunted by memories of Lucy and Eugene. He glimpses a figure he thinks might be Lucy, but cannot be sure. Later, lost in thought, he is struck by an automobile. As he lies injured, his only retort to the driver is 'Riffraff!' Meanwhile, Lucy lives a busy life, avoiding thoughts of George, and tells her father a parable about a proud Indian chief named Vendonah.

## Themes in this chapter

### Pride and Arrogance

George's pride persists even after his fall; he calls the driver 'Riffraff!' and Lucy's parable about Vendonah (Rides-Down-Everything) mirrors his own arrogance.

### Illusion of Permanence

The white house Lucy admired is now painted chocolate and surrounded by freight yards, symbolizing the impermanence of beauty and status.

### Gossip and Reputation

Fanny's apartment house life is filled with 'eager but suppressed conversations' and sibilant gossip, reflecting the theme.

## Character check-ins

### George Amberson Minafer

Avoids the wealthy suburbs; glimpses a figure he thinks might be Lucy; is struck by an automobile and calls the driver 'Riffraff!'

### Lucy Morgan

Possibly seen by George; lives a busy life with charity work and dancing; tells her father a parable about a proud Indian chief.

### Eugene Morgan

George senses hatred from him; Lucy tells him a parable about Vendonah.

### Fanny Minafer

Lives in an apartment house, absorbed in table-d'hôte life; rarely sees Eugene or Lucy; George finds her not at home.

## Key lines

> The house was white no longer; nothing could be white which the town had reached, and the town reached far beyond the beautiful white house now. The owners had given up and painted it a despairing chocolate, suitable to the freight-yard life it was called upon to endure.

The once-beautiful white house is now painted a gloomy brown, overwhelmed by the expanding city and its industrial surroundings.

_Illustrates the theme of the illusion of permanence and the decay of the old order._

> It seemed to George that he felt emanating from the outwardly imperturbable person of his mother’s old friend a hate that was like a hot wind.

George senses a palpable hatred from Eugene, even though Eugene's exterior remains calm.

_Highlights the lingering hostility between George and Eugene._

> He was so proud that he wore iron shoes and he walked over people’s faces with them.

The chief Vendonah was so arrogant he literally trampled others underfoot.

_Lucy's parable directly critiques George's pride and arrogance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_magnificent_ambersons_se/chapters/xxxiv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_magnificent_ambersons_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_magnificent_ambersons_se/chapters