Summary and Analysis

Summary

On the way to Mr. Emerson, the narrator encounters an old man singing a famous blues song and pushing a cart full of discarded blueprints. The narrator was at first wary of Wagoner, whose nonsensical riddles and rhymes reminded him of the Vets of Golden Day, but gradually relaxed, recognizing some of the rhymes as childhood songs. The narrator then stops at a drugstore for breakfast. He was annoyed by the clerk's suggestion of "specials" such as pork chops, grits, eggs, biscuits, and coffee because the clerk correctly identified him as a Southerner, and the narrator instead ordered orange juice, toast, and coffee. I ordered Upon exiting the drugstore, he was surprised to see a clerk offering a "special" to a white man. Finally arriving at Mr. Emerson's office, the narrator encounters a young man disguised as Mr. Emerson's son and reveals the shocking details of Dr. Emerson. Bledsoe's letter is revealed. Realizing the impact his revelation would have on the narrator, the young Mr. Emerson offered him first a job as a valet and then a job at Liberty Paint, but the narrator rejected both offers. refused. Returning to his room, he fully experiences the effects of Bledsoe's betrayal. In a fit of rage, he calls Liberty Paints and is surprised to be offered an interview. That night, dreams of his revenge make it difficult to sleep.

Analysis

From his encounter with the cart-man, the narrator learns that he cannot escape his past or his Southern "roots." He also learns that in order to live in New York, he must learn not only to survive but to adapt. Providing a sharp contrast to the cart-man, Mr. Emerson's son admits to feeling somewhat guilty, yet openly revels in his father's material wealth, leading the narrator to conclude that "these men must be kings of the earth." Like Mr. Norton, Mr. Emerson has exploited blacks for his personal gain, as illustrated by the opulent artwork and furnishings of his office, which the narrator refers to as "a museum." But unlike the museum at his college, which housed only the relics of slavery, Mr. Emerson's "museum" includes priceless treasures from Asia and Africa, symbolizing the exploitation of both continents by Europeans. Suggesting imminent danger and recalling animalistic behaviors in both the battle royal and Golden Day episodes, the jungle imagery is also significant. The relationship between Mr. Emerson and his son who appears to be homosexual is important as well. Having experienced the pain of rejection and alienation himself, Mr. Emerson's son can identify with the narrator, which prompts him to reveal the contents of Dr. Bledsoe's letter. The narrator describes young Emerson as "moving with a long, hip-swinging stride," a phrase used earlier to describe the vet, thereby drawing our attention to the similarities between blacks and whites while simultaneously highlighting the vast differences in their social and economic status. When the narrator returns to his room at Men's House and acknowledges the full impact of Dr. Bledsoe's betrayal, he initially feels that his life is over and sets his sights on revenge.

Themes

Race and Racism

Identity and Invisibility

Dreams and the Unconscious

Ambition and Disillusionment