# XIX: A Midnight Walk explained — The Marrow of Tradition

> Chapter companion for The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt.

## What happens

Ellis leaves the Morning Chronicle office and walks home, passing by Major Carteret's house in hopes of seeing Clara's light. He is in a hopeful mood after hearing at the Clarendon Club that Tom Delamere cheated at cards, which he believes will ruin Delamere's chances with Clara. During his walk, he observes two men on the opposite side of the street: one is Sandy, old Mr. Delamere's body servant, and the other follows him stealthily, looking remarkably similar. Ellis dismisses the incident as unimportant and returns to thoughts of Clara.

## Themes in this chapter

### Class and Privilege

Ellis reflects on how Delamere's social connections may protect him from scandal, illustrating the power of privilege in shielding the elite from consequences.

### Identity and Passing

The mysterious follower who looks remarkably like Sandy hints at themes of mistaken identity or deliberate impersonation, central to the novel's exploration of racial passing.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Ellis

Leaves the office and walks home, hopeful after hearing about Tom Delamere's cheating at cards; observes Sandy and a mysterious follower.

### Tom Delamere

Mentioned as the rival of Ellis; a story about his cheating at cards is circulating, which Ellis believes will ruin his reputation with Clara.

### Sandy Campbell

Seen by Ellis walking ahead on the street, carrying a small bundle; recognized by his old-fashioned coat.

### Miss Clara Pemberton

The object of Ellis's affection; he hopes to win her favor now that Delamere is discredited.

### Major Carteret

His house is passed by Ellis on the walk home; mentioned as a relative of Tom Delamere.

## Key lines

> Ellis left the office of the Morning Chronicle about eleven o'clock the same evening and set out to walk home.

Around eleven that night, Ellis departed from the newspaper office and began walking to his boardinghouse.

_Sets the scene for the chapter's nocturnal events._

> So grave an affair as cheating at cards could never be kept secret—it was certain to reach her ears; and Ellis was morally certain that Clara would never marry a man who had been proved dishonorable.

Ellis believed that news of Tom Delamere's card cheating would inevitably get out, and that Clara would refuse to marry a man with a tarnished reputation.

_Reveals Ellis's hope that Delamere's dishonesty will end his courtship with Clara._

> When this second man came in range of the light, Ellis wondered that there should be two men so much alike.

As the second man stepped into the lamplight, Ellis was struck by how closely he resembled Sandy.

_Foreshadows the theme of doubles and mistaken identity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters/xix-a-midnight-walk
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_marrow_of_tradition_se/chapters