# A Matter of Tunnels explained — The Titan

> Chapter companion for The Titan by Theodore Dreiser.

## What happens

Cowperwood resolves the Sohlberg affair by pensioning Harold and sending him back to Denmark, while Rita, disillusioned by the scandal, leaves for Europe. Aileen returns home after Cowperwood agrees to dismiss Antoinette Nowak. Turning his focus back to business, Cowperwood becomes obsessed with Chicago's street-railway system, studying the three competing companies and identifying the bridge congestion on the North and West Sides as a key obstacle. He discovers two abandoned, rat-infested tunnels under the Chicago River and considers their potential for streetcar use. Learning of the new cable-car technology being adopted in San Francisco and by the South Side railway, he sees a solution for the North and West Sides and eyes the poorly managed North Chicago City Railway as ripe for a takeover.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ambition and Power

Cowperwood's relentless drive to control Chicago's street-railways is portrayed as an obsession, with the refrain 'To own these street-railways!' echoing his desire for dominance.

### Wealth and Its Illusions

Cowperwood's wealth, which once seemed to create a 'glittering bubble of romance' for Rita, is shown as insufficient to retain her love after the scandal, revealing the limits of money.

### Determinism and Fate

Cowperwood's natural aptitude for street-railways is described as being 'in his blood,' suggesting an almost fated path, while the tunnels and cable technology present opportunities that seem destined for him to exploit.

## Character check-ins

### Frank A. Cowperwood

Resolves the Sohlberg affair, turns attention to street-railway ambitions, explores the abandoned tunnels, and considers cable-car technology.

### Aileen Cowperwood

Returns home after Cowperwood agrees to dismiss Antoinette Nowak; remains quiescent but has not raised her standing with Cowperwood.

### Rita Sohlberg

Sickened by the tangle with Aileen, she sees Cowperwood in a different light and leaves for Europe, ending the affair.

### Harold Sohlberg

Accepts Cowperwood's pension and returns to Denmark after fuming and meditating.

### Antoinette Nowak

Cowperwood agrees to dispense with her services as part of the settlement with Aileen.

### Norman Schryhart

Controls the South Side Chicago City Railway and is inimical to Cowperwood; his father was an investor in the tunnels.

### Anson Merrill

Co-owner of the South Side railway and investor in the tunnels; has never shown friendship to Cowperwood.

## Key lines

> To own these street-railways! To own these street-railways! So rang the song of his mind.

Cowperwood's mind was consumed by the desire to possess the street-railways, a thought that repeated like a refrain.

_Highlights Cowperwood's obsessive ambition for control of the transit system._

> The tinkle of car-bells and the plop of plodding horses’ feet was in his blood.

Cowperwood had an innate, almost instinctual connection to the sounds and rhythms of street-railway operations.

_Emphasizes his natural affinity for the street-railway business._

> His charm for her had, perhaps, consisted mostly in the atmosphere of flawless security, which seemed to surround him—a glittering bubble of romance. That, by one fell attack, was now burst.

Rita was attracted to Cowperwood's seeming invulnerability, but the scandal with Aileen shattered that illusion, revealing his vulnerability.

_Illustrates the theme of wealth and its illusions, and the fragility of Cowperwood's romantic appeal._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxi-a-matter-of-tunnels
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters