# XVII explained — There Is Confusion > Chapter companion for There Is Confusion by Jessie Redmon Fauset. ## What happens Joanna and Peter attend the opera, but their evening turns into a heated argument about racial prejudice and Peter's wavering commitment to his medical career. Peter expresses deep frustration with the systemic racism he faces, including being denied service at a barbershop and witnessing discrimination against other Black students. Joanna challenges his defeatism, calling him a coward and a shirker, and breaks their engagement when she learns he spent the night at a cabaret instead of reflecting on their quarrel. Peter later returns contrite, but Joanna refuses to take back the ring, though she admits she still loves him. ## Themes in this chapter ### Racial Prejudice and Identity Peter's litany of racist incidents—from the barbershop refusal to the seminary seating—underscores the daily indignities faced by Black Americans, and Joanna's insistence on perseverance reflects a struggle to maintain dignity and ambition in the face of systemic oppression. ### Ambition and Success Joanna's drive to succeed as a singer and her demand that Peter not abandon his medical career highlight the tension between personal ambition and the corrosive effects of racism. ### Love and Sacrifice Joanna's decision to break the engagement, despite her love for Peter, demonstrates her belief that love must be coupled with integrity and commitment to one's goals. ## Character check-ins ### Joanna Marshall Joanna is saddened by her own discouragement about her singing career and becomes furious with Peter for his defeatist attitude and his night at a cabaret, leading her to break their engagement. ### Peter Bye Peter vents his anger about racial prejudice in medical school and society, reveals his temptation to abandon his career, and later shows up haggard after a night at a cabaret, causing a rift with Joanna. ### Maggie Ellersley Maggie is mentioned by Joanna during the argument as a point of comparison, suggesting she would not nag Peter about his behavior. ### Bertully Bertully is referenced as the person with whom Joanna took trips where she faced racial slurs from other girls. ### Harry Portor Harry Portor is mentioned as being at the cabaret with Peter, described as a full-fledged doctor with little practice. ### John Talbert John Talbert is cited by Peter as an example of a Black student who was blackballed from Zeta Gamma despite being its equivalent. ## Key lines > Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me. Joanna recites a childhood rhyme to dismiss the racial slurs she endured, but admits the real pain came from being rejected as a performer. _This quote illustrates Joanna's attempt to cope with racism through a mantra of resilience, though she acknowledges its limits._ > I don't want a coward and a shirker for a husband. As though that weren't the thing those white people—those mean ones—wanted! Joanna accuses Peter of giving in to racism by abandoning his career, arguing that his defeatism plays into the hands of bigots. _This moment crystallizes Joanna's belief that perseverance is a form of resistance against racial oppression._ > I mean I can't consider a man for a husband who throws away his career because of the meanness of a few white men. Joanna breaks the engagement, stating she cannot marry someone who lets prejudice derail his life's work. _This quote marks the climax of their conflict, where Joanna prioritizes principle over love._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters/xvii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/there_is_confusion_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/there_is_confusion_se/chapters