# A Supper Party explained — The Titan

> Chapter companion for The Titan by Theodore Dreiser.

## What happens

Aileen, left lonely by Cowperwood, is drawn into Chicago's bohemian social scene by Taylor Lord and Kent McKibben. At a gambling party hosted by Rhees Grier, she meets the dashing Polk Lynde, a wealthy idler and philanderer. Lynde flatters Aileen and involves her in a high-stakes roulette session, where they become the center of attention. Aileen revels in the excitement and admiration, feeling a thrill that contrasts with her usual isolation.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wealth and Its Illusions

The chapter highlights the intoxicating allure of wealth and gambling, as Aileen and Lynde's lavish play creates a spectacle of risk and glamour, masking deeper emotional voids.

### Love and Betrayal

Aileen's flirtation with Polk Lynde, while Cowperwood is absent, foreshadows potential betrayal and her search for affection outside her marriage.

### Social Class and Ostracism

Aileen's yearning for acceptance in high society is evident as she revels in being the center of attention, yet her position remains precarious due to her past and marital status.

## Character check-ins

### Aileen Cowperwood

Aileen is the central figure in this chapter, enjoying the attention and excitement of the gambling party, and is drawn to Polk Lynde's daring and charm.

### Polk Lynde

Polk Lynde is a wealthy, handsome philanderer who aggressively flirts with Aileen and involves her in his high-stakes roulette play, seeking to impress her.

### Taylor Lord

Taylor Lord is one of Aileen's faithful companions who introduces her to the bohemian social circle and observes her interactions with Lynde.

### Kent Barrows McKibben

Kent McKibben is another of Aileen's attentive companions, present at the gambling party and watching the unfolding scene.

### Rhees Grier

Rhees Grier is the host of the gambling party, a parlor artist whose studio serves as the setting for the evening's events.

## Key lines

> In every large city there is a kind of social half world, where artists and the more adventurous of the socially unconventional and restless meet for an exchange of things which cannot be counted mere social form and civility. It is the age-old world of Bohemia.

Every major city has a bohemian subculture where unconventional artists and social rebels gather to share experiences beyond formal etiquette.

_This passage sets the scene for Aileen's entry into Chicago's artistic and gambling circles._

> If she were going to be 'bad,' as she would have phrased it to herself, she would be 'bad' with a man such as he. He would be winsome and coaxing, but at the same time strong, direct, deliciously brutal, like her Frank.

Aileen thinks that if she were to be unfaithful, she would choose a man like Polk Lynde—charming yet forceful, reminiscent of Cowperwood.

_This reveals Aileen's internal justification for her attraction to Lynde and her growing discontent._

> Lynde was plunging for effect. He lost a thousand and fifty dollars at one clip.

Lynde was gambling recklessly to impress, losing over a thousand dollars in a single bet.

_Illustrates Lynde's extravagant and performative approach to gambling, aimed at captivating Aileen._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxxii-a-supper-party
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_titan_se/chapters