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Book 2, Chapter 2
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Another Country, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Race in America
Love and Sexuality
High Art vs. Low Art
Alienation and New York City
Summary
Analysis
The following Wednesday, Cass calls Vivaldo at the bookstore where he works and asks if he will meet with her. Ida is gone for her first meeting with Ellis, so Vivaldo says he would be happy to, having nothing else to do. When Cass arrives, she is more dressed up than normal and looks more youthful than Vivaldo has seen her in a long time.
The change in Cass’s appearance marks a change in her character, though the nature of that change is not immediately apparent. Evidently, something has happened in her life to make her want to appear younger and, in turn, more attractive.
Themes
However, Cass is not doing well. She tells Vivaldo that she has been very unhappy in her marriage lately. She wonders whether Richard loves her at all anymore and admits that she fantasizes about going to bed with other men—anything to make her feel like a woman again. Vivaldo tries to console her. He suggests her situation cannot possibly be as bad as she makes it seem. In his mind, Richard and Cass are still a bright young couple with a great future ahead of them. However, as Cass sits in front of him now, he knows he is mistaken.
As Vivaldo speaks to Cass, he struggles to reconcile the past with the present. For the first time, he realizes that he and his friends have aged and become different people. Seemingly, Cass’s recent change in appearance is due to her desire to have an affair. Based on her description, the distance between Cass and Richard is even worse than what Baldwin has shown thus far.
Themes
Cass’s insecurity regarding her marriage reminds Vivaldo of Ida’s meeting with Ellis. He thinks about what Ida and Ellis are doing together and starts to get jealous again. He knows he shouldn’t think this way, as it only makes everything worse. However, he cannot help himself. Distractedly, he turns his attention back to Cass and asks if there is anything he can do to help her.
Cass thanks Vivaldo for his support but does not think there is anything he can do. She is depressed because Richard has not touched her in a long time, and it does not seem like that is going to change. She feels like she performs her duties in the household in a robotic manner—there is no love or warmth present. Deep down, she suspects Richard resents her and believes she is snobbish.
Although Richard associates with upper-class people, he started off as a schoolteacher and did not come from a particularly wealthy family. Given his class background and the type of novel he wrote, Richard feels insecure around Cass and other people like her who were born into money.
Themes
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Not knowing what else to say, Vivaldo asks Cass if she has talked to Richard about what is going on. Cass says she has not, except when they are fighting. Vivaldo asks Cass if Richard knows they are speaking. Cass says she told him, but he is not happy about it because he is jealous of Vivaldo. Vivaldo is shocked; he cannot imagine what reason Richard would have to be jealous of him. Cass tells him it is because he has the potential to become a real writer—something Richard no longer believes himself capable of achieving.
Many characters envy the situations of others in the novel. Rufus would trade places with almost anyone, Richard is jealous of Vivaldo, and Vivaldo is jealous of Ellis. Everyone thinks they want what someone else has because they do not realize the negative consequences of holding certain positions. Of course, some people are demonstrably better off than others (Richard in comparison to Rufus, for example), but being better off certainly does not always lead to a genuine sense of fulfillment.
Themes
Vivaldo changes the subject and admits that he thinks Ida might be having an affair with Ellis. Cass can only laugh; both she and Vivaldo are sitting around wondering about their significant others, while their significant others are out in the world living their dreams, albeit potentially through immoral means. Cass gets up to use the bathroom, leaving Vivaldo alone with his thoughts.
Vivaldo and Cass are willing to be vulnerable with each other in a way that they aren’t with their spouses. Cass does not speak to Richard the way she speaks to Vivaldo, and Vivaldo is still trying to figure out how to effectively communicate with Ida.
Themes
Vivaldo thinks about a recent argument he had with Ida. While Ida was nearby, he had a conversation with his mother about bringing his new girlfriend over to dinner. Vivaldo wanted to tell his mother that Ida is Black but worried about what her response would be. After he got off the phone, Ida mocked him because she could see that he was tiptoeing around the issue of her race. Vivaldo assured Ida that his family means well, and insisted they are a sheltered bunch that simply needed exposure to people from other races. In response, Ida told Vivaldo that she has no interest in acting as an educational tool for his family. If they do not want to see her as an equal human being from the start, she does not want to meet them.
To Vivaldo, his family’s racism is no big deal because he thinks of it as benign and rooted in ignorance rather than actively hateful. However, what Vivaldo fails to understand from Ida’s perspective is that people like his parents are all too typical in the society they live in. Ida has plenty of experience with people like Vivaldo’s parents—as well as with people who are much worse—and she is not interested in putting herself in a situation in which she feels lesser than.
Themes
As often happens when Ida gets mad, she started generalizing about white people, which irritated Vivaldo. They got into another yelling match and, to prove a point, Ida purposely smashed Vivaldo’s dishes on the floor. Vivaldo tried to get Ida to quiet down because he knew the neighbors were already irritated with him, and he does not want someone to call the police. Eventually, he got Ida to calm down.
Although Vivaldo does not think Ida is being fair, he does not want their fight to turn into something bigger than it needs to be. However, the ever-present issue of race is proving to be more of a problem in their relationship than Vivaldo expected. It is difficult to see how they can stay together in the long term if Ida refuses to meet Vivaldo’s parents.
Themes
Back in the present, Cass returns from her trip to the bathroom and thanks Vivaldo for taking the time to meet with her. Vivaldo assures her that he appreciated their chat and asks where she plans to go next. Cass openly admits that she is considering adultery. However, for the time being, she wants to go see a movie—anything to keep her away from Richard. Vivaldo waves down a cab and sends her on her way.
Like when Rufus went to the movies, Cass has no interest in seeing what is playing. Rather, she wants to sit and think about her situation and figure out if she actually wants to go through with an affair. She has built up a lot of resentment toward Richard and, at this point, finds it difficult to be around him.
Themes
Cass goes to a movie theater, sits down, and thinks about her situation. She could not care less about the film. In fact, she does not like films in general. After some time, she gets up and calls Eric and asks if she can come over. Eric seems to suspect that Cass is romantically interested in him, so he asks her to pick up some alcohol on the way over.
Ironically, Richard is trying to turn his latest novel into a film, which is apparently a medium Cass (and Vivaldo) do not care for. Meanwhile, Cass’s call to Eric suggests that she has decided to go through with the affair after all.
Themes
Cass buys some scotch and makes her way to Eric’s place. Eric lets her and the two of them sit down, drink, and discuss Eric’s play. Cass sees Eric’s notes on the play, which contain the name “Yves.” She wonders who the name could refer to. Boldly, Eric changes the subject and admits he has romantic feelings for Cass. However, Eric is nervous about sleeping with Cass because Yves will be coming to New York in just a few weeks, and he still loves him.
Here, Baldwin gives a more honest view of Eric’s internal conflict when it comes to Yves. He has thought before about how Yves might abandon him without explicitly acknowledging that the opposite might also be true. For Eric, being with a woman—even a married woman—means a simpler life because he doesn’t have to worry about others judging his sexuality.
Themes
Eric explains his situation to Cass. Eric’s relationship with Yves does not bother Cass; she continues to express an interest in sleeping with him. It does not take much for Eric to give in. The two of them have sex and, afterward, Eric feels amazing. He admits that he feels better than he has in a long time and asks Cass when they can see each other again. Cass begins thinking about how she is going to hide the affair from Richard. For the most part, it will not be hard. Richard usually ignores her, and she spends much of her time out of the house. Although she does not want to return home, it is not because she feels guilty. Additionally, she knows she can always use Vivaldo and Ida as an excuse for where she has been.
Eric and Cass both provide temporary solutions to each other’s problems. However, nothing about their situation seems permanent. Before long, Yves will come to the United States and Richard will grow suspicious of Cass’s behavior. It will be difficult for them to hide given their small circle of friends. Still, both are excited enough about being with somebody new that they do not think about the long-term consequences—though Cass appears slightly more thoughtful and realistic in that regard.
Themes
After meeting with Cass, Vivaldo telephones the restaurant where Ida works. The manager informs him that Ida did not show up for her shift, which makes Vivaldo suspicious. Once again, he wonders if Ida could be cheating on him with Ellis. Vivaldo wishes he had someone to talk to about his situation. He realizes that Rufus was his only true friend, the only person he truly felt comfortable confiding in. He contemplates calling Eric a few times, but ultimately decides against it. Vivaldo likes Eric, but Eric has been gone for too long and feels like a different person now. Vivaldo needs to get to know him again before he trusts him fully.
While Cass has decided to go through with her affair, Vivaldo decides to investigate whether there is any merit to his suspicions. Previously, Vivaldo’s accusations purely came off as jealousy. However, this section provides proof that, although Ida may not be having an affair, she also is not being fully transparent with Vivaldo. Again, Vivaldo feels isolated and alone; he does not feel that he can trust his partner, and there is no one in his life who understands him.
Themes
Not knowing what else to do, Vivaldo walks around aimlessly and contemplates his relationship. At one point, he runs into Jane, who is drunk and with her new boyfriend, Dick. Jane introduces Vivaldo to Dick and asks him if he would like to come drinking with them. Vivaldo declines the invitation; he knows Jane and alcohol are not a good combination.
At this point, Jane is a remnant of Vivaldo’s past that he would rather leave behind. Although Ida might not be his future, he knows Jane isn’t.
Themes
Jane begins teasing Vivaldo about dating an African American girl. She speaks loudly and Vivaldo can tell that other people around them—many of them African American—can hear her. Vivaldo finds Jane’s behavior crass and ignorant; he hopes that the people around him will not think badly of him because of what she says. Vivaldo gives Dick a look of pity because he knows Dick will have to deal with Jane for the rest of the night—and perhaps much longer. Jane catches the look, and it only makes her louder and more vulgar.
Jane speaks about Ida as though she is a step down from Jane herself. Jane’s behavior is especially deplorable to Vivaldo because she focuses in on Ida’s race and, to make matters worse, does not even bother to consider who might be listening in on their rather loud conversation. If Vivaldo was not already sure he was done with Jane, this conversation sealed the deal.
Themes
After talking to Jane and Dick, Vivaldo goes to a diner and gets a meal. After, he tries to get ahold of Ida again, but to no avail. With nothing else to do, Vivaldo has a few drinks and thinks about his life. He wonders what will become of his and Ida’s relationship. He also thinks about Cass and Richard, and whether he really admired Richard’s talent. He suspects he may have only admired Richard because Richard managed to get with Cass. As a young man, Vivaldo always thought of Richard and Cass as much older and wiser than him. However, as he has gotten older, they seem more like peers now than anything else. Indeed, they are not too far apart in age; Vivaldo is in his late 20s, while Richard and Cass are in their early to mid-30s.
Vivaldo is the second character in the book—along with Eric—to look back on his relationship with Cass and Richard and realize it may not have been what he thought. In particular, it seems that Vivaldo not only dislikes Richard’s novel but also Richard himself. Indeed, Vivaldo is clearly closer to Cass than Richard, given their earlier conversation. Cass correctly assumed that Vivaldo would keep their conversation from Richard, which it sounds like he plans to do.
Themes
While drinking at a bar, Vivaldo spots a beautiful blonde woman who looks somewhat like Cass. Next to her is a portly poet, much older than Vivaldo, who is attempting to engage her in conversation. Vivaldo thinks about what it would be like to have sex with the blonde woman. He realizes it has been a long time since he has made love to a white woman. This thought leads him to think about how destructive sex has been for his relationships. Although he cannot help but admire the blonde woman’s beauty, he realizes it would not be right to try and sleep with her.
If the blonde woman is reminiscent of Cass, then the older writer talking to her must subconsciously remind Vivaldo of Richard. In his interactions with the woman and the poet, Vivaldo tests the boundaries of his relationship with Cass and Richard. He does not go through with attempting to seduce the blonde woman, just as he decides against attempting to seduce Cass.
Themes
Vivaldo walks up to the poet and the woman and tells the poet he is a great admirer of his work. Though he compliments the man, Vivaldo looks at the woman the whole time. The poet thanks Vivaldo for the compliment and then Vivaldo walks away. Vivaldo leaves the bar, but then immediately ducks into another one. There, he sees a poet he knows, Lorenzo. Lorenzo is drinking with his girlfriend, Belle, and their friend, Harold. Lorenzo invites Vivaldo to come drink with them.
Vivaldo feels isolated and alienated from those around him—though, like Rufus, he has plenty of connections. Everywhere he goes he manages to spot someone he knows and can strike up a conversation with. On this particular night, Vivaldo finds himself drawn to poets and their compatriots, who he feels will be suitable company to help get him through the night.
Themes
Already quite drunk, Vivaldo, Harold, Belle, and Lorenzo laugh and make jokes back and forth. Vivaldo tells Lorenzo about Ida, though he makes up a lie and says she is at a family function. He does not trust Lorenzo enough to share his insecurities about what he fears Ida is really doing.
Although Lorenzo and his friends might be good company for the night, Vivaldo does not know them well enough to trust them with his true problems. He enjoys the interaction, but it does not provide him with the deeper level of fulfillment he is looking for.
Themes
After spending some time at the bar, Lorenzo invites Vivaldo to come back to his apartment with Belle and Harold. Since he still has not heard from Ida, Vivaldo decides to go. At the apartment, the four of them smoke marijuana and joke some more. Belle remarks upon how beautiful the city looks at night, and Vivaldo agrees. For a moment, he gets caught up in how much he enjoys being around this group of people. However, seconds later, he reminds himself that he is high, and this is likely as close to these people as he is ever going to feel.
Vivaldo’s interaction with Lorenzo and his friends recalls how Rufus felt when he saw some of his old acquaintances at the park. Although there is an initial feeling of warmth and happiness, underneath it is a second, unsettling feeling of impermanence and emptiness. Vivaldo has learned not to trust his feelings in the moment because the moment can be misleading, especially when drugs and alcohol are involved.
Themes
On the roof of Lorenzo’s apartment building, Lorenzo and Belle curl up next to each other under a blanket. Nearby, Harold tries to make a move on Vivaldo. Kindly, Vivaldo tells Harold that he is not interested. He assures Harold that he used to sleep with men, but that time has passed. Harold understands and the situation does not escalate any further. However, Vivaldo does hold Harold in his arms while he looks out at the city.
Vivaldo does his best to save Harold’s feelings while rejecting him. As someone who has had sexual relationships with men, Vivaldo knows that it cannot be easy for Harold to meet people, and he wants to let him down nicely.
Themes
Vivaldo falls asleep and does not wake up until the sun is coming up. Harold, Ida, and Lorenzo are all still sleeping in close proximity to him. Realizing what time it is, Vivaldo gets up and heads home. He wonders what Ida will think about his absence and suspects she will be angry with him.
In addition to making Ida angry, Vivaldo has lost some of his leverage if he plans to confront her about a potential affair. It would be difficult for him to accuse Ida of not being where she was supposed to when he did not even come home for the night.
Themes
