There Is Confusion · Chapter
XVI explained
Joanna Marshall grapples with her ambitions and her relationship with Peter Bye, who proposes abandoning his surgical studies to become her accompanist.
What happens
Joanna Marshall grapples with her ambitions and her relationship with Peter Bye, who proposes abandoning his surgical studies to become her accompanist. She rejects the idea, wanting a husband who is her equal or superior. Meanwhile, she faces professional disappointment as managers refuse to hire her as a classical dancer due to her race. The chapter explores her internal conflict between love and her drive for greatness, culminating in a tense but affectionate encounter on Broadway.
Themes in this chapter
Ambition and Success
Joanna's refusal to accept mediocrity and her demand that Peter achieve distinction reflect the theme of striving for greatness.
Racial Prejudice and Identity
Managers reject Joanna as a classical dancer because of her race, highlighting the barriers faced by Black artists.
Characters to notice
- Joanna Marshall
Struggles with her desire for Peter to achieve greatness while facing racial barriers in her dancing career.
- Peter Bye
Proposes quitting surgery to become Joanna's accompanist, revealing his frustration with his studies and his love for her.
- Maggie Ellersley
Mentioned as introducing Peter to a music partner and seeking a divorce from Henderson Neal.
- Bertully
Joanna's dance instructor who accompanies her to meetings with managers, believing in her talent.
Key passages
“She would never mind poverty half so much; she would contrive somehow to climb out of that. But ordinary tame mediocrity! Besides, colored people had had enough of that. Not for Joanna!”
Joanna would rather face poverty than settle for a mediocre life, believing that Black people have already endured too much mediocrity.
Highlights Joanna's rejection of mediocrity and her racial pride.
“But the white American public ain’t ready for you yet, they won’t have you.”
A manager tells Joanna that the white American audience is not prepared to accept a Black classical dancer.
Illustrates the racial prejudice limiting Joanna's career opportunities.