# XIII explained — The Turmoil

> Chapter companion for The Turmoil by Booth Tarkington.

## What happens

Bibbs returns home after the funeral, disturbed by Sibyl's laughter. He manages visiting relatives, including Uncle Gideon who quotes Bildad the Shuhite to the grieving James Sheridan. After the relatives leave, Bibbs reflects on laughter after funerals and writes in his notebook. The next day, life resumes its usual routine; Mrs. Sheridan pressures Bibbs to promise his father he will return to the machine shop in a cheerful spirit, and he reluctantly agrees.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and Health

The chapter centers on the aftermath of Jim's death, with Bibbs reflecting on laughter after a funeral and the family's struggle to return to normalcy.

### Family and Legacy

Mrs. Sheridan pressures Bibbs to take up his father's business expectations, highlighting the weight of family duty and legacy.

### Individualism vs. Conformity

Bibbs reluctantly agrees to return to the machine shop, suppressing his own inclinations to conform to his father's wishes.

## Character check-ins

### Bibbs Sheridan

Returns home pondering Sibyl's laughter, manages visiting relatives, writes in his notebook, and reluctantly promises his mother to return to the machine shop cheerfully.

### Sibyl Sheridan

Her laughter at the funeral disturbs Bibbs; he cannot understand its significance.

### James Sheridan

Lies face-down on his bed in grief, listening to Uncle Gideon's quotations from Bildad the Shuhite.

### Uncle Gideon

Visits from Boonville, comforts James Sheridan by quoting Bildad the Shuhite, and is startled by a grandson's camera flash.

### Edith Sheridan

Wears black and argues with her mother about receiving calls during mourning.

### Mary Vertrees

Seen standing on her front steps in the twilight, bowing gravely as Bibbs returns home.

## Key lines

> Laughter after a funeral. In this reaction people will laugh at anything and at nothing. The band plays a dirge on the way to the cemetery, but when it turns back, and the mourning carriages are out of hearing, it strikes up, 'Darktown is Out Tonight.'

People often laugh inappropriately after a funeral, finding humor in anything. The band plays solemn music on the way to the grave, but on the return trip, they switch to a lively tune.

_Bibbs's notebook reflection on the natural but unsettling reaction of laughter following grief._

> I want you to promise me that you'll do what he asks you to. Promise me!

She demanded that he commit to following his father's wishes.

_Mrs. Sheridan pressures Bibbs to promise to return to the machine shop cheerfully._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turmoil_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters