A Bend in the River

by

V. S. Naipaul

A Bend in the River: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Yvette and Salim go to have a late lunch at The Tivoli, a restaurant across the street from BigBurger that attracts more of a European customer base. Even there, though, the photograph of the President is inescapable, this particular one over three feet high. Salim asks if Yvette knew Indar before and she subtly implies their affair, commenting how “an encumbrance can become a habit.” Salim thanks her for the dinner party and compliments her outfit from that night. Yvette invites him to lunch at the house in the Domain the next day. When Salim arrives Yvette says she had cancelled lunch and forgot to tell him. She goes to make them eggs in the kitchen, and Salim notes how the allure of the house in the dimness of the evening has faded in the stark daylight—the shoddy craftsmanship is evident everywhere.
The growing prevalence of the President’s photograph reflects his growing authoritarian power—notably the actual images themselves are portrayed larger and larger, as well as more frequently, projecting almost comically his might and omnipotence. Even as the façade of the Domain grows thin, shown in the cheap materials and cracked walls of Yvette and Raymond’s house in the daylight, Salim still desires to be a part of it.
Themes
Power, Freedom, and Identity Theme Icon
Postcolonialism and Perpetual Unrest Theme Icon
Quotes
As they eat, Salim admits he has never read any of Raymond’s work and expresses his desire to read one of his books. Yvette explains he has yet to publish a book, other than his thesis and some articles, and moreover that the history of the country he had been working on ran into some troubles with the government. As a result he has pivoted to the collection of speeches. She is unable to give any clarity as to why or what kind of troubles Raymond had. Salim begins to feel that Yvette might be somewhat trapped there. Raymond is notably absent from their meal.
Mirroring the fading magic of the Domain is the cracks that begin to show in Raymond’s persona as a prominent intellectual and powerful friend of the President. Salim’s inkling that Yvette might be trapped with Raymond begins to illustrate how everyone is connected to the President and his whims. Those who want power exploit themselves to people who have power, who in turn have exploited themselves, all the way up until the power’s source, which in the case of the unnamed country is nothing other than the President’s will. 
Themes
Power, Freedom, and Identity Theme Icon
Postcolonialism and Perpetual Unrest Theme Icon
The City vs. the Bush Theme Icon
Salim invites her to the Hellenic club the next day, and before he leaves, Yvette hands him a stack of magazines with Raymond’s articles in them. Leaving the house, Salim is struck by how overgrown parts of the Domain are becoming, particularly the abandoned model farm. Between the squatters and the overgrowth, Salim begins to think that the Domain is not “Europe in Africa” but rather “just bush” like the rest of it, as Nazruddin had once said.
The interplay between bush and city continues to play out over the Domain in its modern gestures and overgrowth. Salim constantly perceives the cyclical construction and reclamation that occurs over the town, showing how past and present, city and bush, continue to relate to one another—the bush can never be fully cleared, nor can the colonial past ever be trampled.
Themes
The City vs. the Bush Theme Icon
Layers of the Past Theme Icon
Yvette meets Salim at his apartment the next day before the Hellenic club, but instead of going to lunch the two have sex. It is unlike anything Salim has experienced before, having only experienced sex in brothels. Unlike those times, where it was a passionless, unbalanced exchange of services, he is both overwhelmed and entirely present in the moment. Afterward he feels energized, but as Yvette leaves, she kisses his trousers, a trick of spurring desire he had seen the women in the brothel do before, causing Salim to question the whole afternoon.
Sex is also a means of securing power, but where before Salim pursued sex as a one-sided affirmation of his manhood, his relationship with Yvette is unique as it seems to provide something to both parties. ,
Themes
Power, Freedom, and Identity Theme Icon
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Yvette calls him the next morning and their affair begins in earnest. Though Salim is invigorated by their relationship, he also fears for his own moral decay, seeing his own work fall by the wayside. Eventually, Salim finds some time to read Raymond’s magazine articles. Though dense and academic, Salim notices the lack of real sourcing of information. Raymond’s writing seems totally detached, for example, from the actual people involved in the events he writes about, backed only by secondary sources. This disconnect leaves the writing hollow and occasionally inaccurate. Salim realizes that despite Raymond’s education, he knows less of actual Africa than people like Indar, or even Father Huismans. As some of Raymond’s aura is dispelled to him in this way, Salim reflects how Yvette must have been captivated by the person Raymond appeared to be when they first met, “glitter[ing]” like their house in the Domain that first evening.
The hollow nature of Raymond’s study and writing on Africa reflects more broadly the relationship of the Domain to the country and Africa as a whole: Africa is a means to an end—academic prominence, clout, monetary gain, or protection—something to be exploited. Raymond’s position of prominence is then entirely based on performative understanding and good fortune. Now Raymond is stuck in this performance, and Yvette, convinced by it, is stuck as well.
Themes
Power, Freedom, and Identity Theme Icon
Layers of the Past Theme Icon
Quotes