# XVIII: The Clash explained — The Titan

> Chapter companion for The Titan by Theodore Dreiser.

## What happens

Aileen, suspecting Cowperwood's infidelity, hires detectives who confirm his affairs with Antoinette Nowak and Rita Sohlberg. Enraged and heartbroken, she confronts her feelings of betrayal and plots revenge, eventually luring Rita Sohlberg to her home under a pretense.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Betrayal

Aileen discovers Cowperwood's double infidelity, leading to a violent emotional clash.

### Wealth and Its Illusions

Aileen's wealth cannot protect her from the pain of betrayal; her social position feels hollow.

### Individual vs. Society

Rita Sohlberg's pagan indifference to social morality contrasts with Aileen's conventional anguish.

## Character check-ins

### Aileen Cowperwood

Hires detectives, discovers Cowperwood's affairs, and confronts Rita Sohlberg.

### Frank A. Cowperwood

Carries on affairs with Antoinette Nowak and Rita Sohlberg; Aileen stamps on his picture.

### Rita Sohlberg

Cowperwood's lover; Aileen lures her to the house for a confrontation.

### Antoinette Nowak

Cowperwood's stenographer and mistress; Aileen rages against her.

### Harold Sohlberg

Rita's husband; Cowperwood and Rita plan to use his affairs against him.

### Lillian Cowperwood

Cowperwood's first wife; Aileen fears being treated like her.

## Key lines

> She seized it and threw it on the floor, stamping on his handsome face with her pretty foot, and raging at him in her heart.

Aileen grabbed Cowperwood's portrait, threw it down, and stomped on it, furious at his betrayal.

_Symbolizes her rage and sense of personal violation._

> Rita Sohlberg had been growing on Aileen as a personage, for she had obviously been prospering during this past year, and her beauty had been amazingly enhanced thereby.

Aileen had noticed Rita's increasing beauty and prosperity, which now fueled her jealousy.

_Highlights Aileen's envy and the perceived threat from Rita._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xviii-the-clash
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters