The Plastic Age · Chapter
Chapter XX explained
Hugh returns to Sanford for his junior year, rooming with the wealthy but tedious Paul Vinton and struggling with increased drinking due to Vinton's constant supply of Scotch.
What happens
Hugh returns to Sanford for his junior year, rooming with the wealthy but tedious Paul Vinton and struggling with increased drinking due to Vinton's constant supply of Scotch. A new fraternity president, Leonard Gates, attempts to reform Nu Delta but fails to ban liquor and gambling. Meanwhile, a campus-wide shift toward idealism and intellectualism emerges. Hugh excels academically, earning an A from Professor Henley. During summer vacation, he visits Norry Parker's family on Long Island Sound, where he meets the sophisticated and alluring Cynthia Day, falling deeply in love with her.
Themes in this chapter
College Life: Idealism vs. Reality
Hugh experiences the gap between fraternity ideals (Gates' reform efforts) and the reality of drinking and moral laxity, while a campus-wide turn toward idealism contrasts with his personal struggles.
Love and Romantic Confusion
Hugh's infatuation with Cynthia Day dominates his thoughts, leading him to neglect college life and deepening his emotional entanglement.
Alcohol and Excess
Hugh's drinking escalates due to Vinton's constant offers of Scotch, and the fraternity's failure to ban liquor highlights the pervasiveness of excess.
Characters to notice
- Hugh Carver
Struggles with drinking due to Vinton's influence, excels in studies, and falls in love with Cynthia Day during a summer visit to Norry's cottage.
- Cynthia Day
Introduced as a confident, athletic, and flirtatious young woman who captivates Hugh; they share kisses and a deepening connection.
- Norry Parker
Invites Hugh to his family's summer cottage; appears healthier and more vibrant, and introduces Hugh to a new social circle.
- Paul Vinton
Hugh's new roommate, a wealthy and generous but boring youth who constantly offers Hugh Scotch, contributing to his drinking.
- Leonard Gates
New Nu Delta president who tries to enforce stricter rules against drunkenness and women of ill repute, but fails to ban liquor.
- Professor Henley
Gives Hugh an A in English, delighting him and reinforcing his academic efforts.
Key passages
“She threw herself down on the sand, and the boys sat down beside her. From that moment Hugh was lost.”
Cynthia's casual, confident manner instantly captivated Hugh, marking the beginning of his deep infatuation.
Highlights the pivotal moment when Hugh falls for Cynthia.
“Vinton was a cheerful youth with too much money and not enough sense. He wanted desperately to be thought a good fellow, a 'regular guy,' and he was willing to buy popularity if necessary by standing treat to anyone every chance he got.”
Paul Vinton was a wealthy but foolish young man who tried to buy friendship through constant generosity.
Characterizes Vinton's personality and his role in enabling Hugh's drinking.
“Intolerance seemed to be dying, and the word 'wet' was heard less often. The undergraduates were forsaking their old gods. The wave of materialism was swept back by an in-rushing tide of idealism.”
A cultural shift on campus saw students moving away from materialism and toward idealism, with less stigma against drinking.
Describes the broader intellectual and moral change at Sanford.