The Plastic Age · Chapter
Prom explained
Hugh eagerly anticipates Cynthia's visit for the May Prom, his first.
What happens
Hugh eagerly anticipates Cynthia's visit for the May Prom, his first. He is deeply in love, writing poems and letters. When Cynthia arrives, they attend a musical comedy, dance, and drink heavily. At the Prom, both become drunk, and Hugh leads Cynthia to Norry Parker's room with intentions of intimacy. Norry discovers them, intervenes, and escorts Cynthia home. Hugh, in a drunken stupor, mistakes a photograph of Norry's mother for his own and sobs. Norry, disgusted and disillusioned, throws water in Hugh's face to sober him.
Themes in this chapter
Alcohol and Excess
Heavy drinking at the Prom and fraternity events leads to drunkenness, loss of control, and a near-sexual encounter, highlighting the destructive side of college party culture.
Love and Romantic Confusion
Hugh's idealized love for Cynthia is tested by the reality of their drunken behavior, and Norry's intervention underscores the confusion between genuine affection and physical desire.
Disillusionment and Loss of Innocence
Norry's disillusionment with Hugh's behavior and Hugh's own self-loathing ('I'm no good') mark a loss of innocence, as the romantic idealism of college life gives way to sordid reality.
Characters to notice
- Hugh Carver
Deeply in love with Cynthia, excited for Prom, becomes heavily drunk and attempts to take advantage of Cynthia, leading to a confrontation with Norry.
- Cynthia Day
Visits for Prom, drinks heavily with Hugh, and is led to Norry's room where Norry intervenes and escorts her home.
- Norry Parker
Discovers Hugh and Cynthia in his room, intervenes to protect Cynthia, and is bitterly disillusioned by Hugh's behavior.
- Leonard Gates
Teases Hugh about being in love and warns against drinking at the fraternity house.
- Jim Saunders
Participates in razzing Hugh about Cynthia's picture.
- Paul Vinton
Provides Hugh with gin and later sells him Scotch for the Prom.
Key passages
““I never expected you to fall in love with Cynthia.” Hugh paused in taking off his socks. “Why not?” he demanded. “She’s wonderful.” “You’re so different.””
Norry expresses surprise that Hugh has fallen for Cynthia, noting their contrasting personalities, but Hugh insists she is wonderful and they understand each other.
Highlights the theme of romantic confusion and differing perceptions of compatibility.
““Hugh, get me a drink or I’ll pass out.” Hugh, forgetting his indignation of the year before, went in search of Vinton and deprived that young man of a pint of gin without a scruple.”
Cynthia asks Hugh for a drink to avoid fainting, and Hugh, abandoning his previous moral stance, procures gin from Vinton without hesitation.
Illustrates the normalization of drinking and Hugh's moral compromise for Cynthia.
““Ta-take me somewhere, Hugh.” Strangely enough, he got the significance of her words at once. His blood raced, and he staggered so crazily that Cynthia had to hold him by the arm.”
Cynthia drunkenly asks Hugh to take her somewhere private, and he immediately understands her sexual intent, though both are too intoxicated to walk steadily.
Key moment of escalating intimacy and loss of control, leading to the confrontation with Norry.
““It’s not,” Hugh exclaimed angrily; “it’s not. It’s my musher, my own mu-musher—my, my own dear musher. Oh, oh!” He slumped down in a heap and began to sob bitterly, muttering, “Musher, musher, musher.””
In a drunken stupor, Hugh mistakes a photograph of Norry's mother for his own and sobs uncontrollably, calling her 'musher' (mother).
Shows Hugh's complete breakdown and emotional regression, symbolizing his loss of dignity and innocence.
