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Book 3, Chapter 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Tender Is the Night, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Excess, Destruction, and the Failed American Dream
Gender, Mental Illness, and Psychiatry
The Pursuit of Youth and Innocence
Racism and Otherness
Summary
Analysis
Upon returning to Zurich, Dick explains his injuries by telling Nicole a revised version of what happened in Rome—“he had gone philanthropically to the rescue of a drunken friend.” The ghastly experience lingers with Dick, but he decides to throw himself into work at the clinic so that Franz doesn’t have an opportunity to “break with him.”
Unsurprisingly, Dick lies to Nicole about the events in Rome, making himself out to be heroic, rather than impulsive and belligerent. Dick senses that Franz is trying to find an opportunity to fire him from the clinic.
Themes
In May, Franz finally has “an opportunity to insert the first wedge.” Sitting down in Franz’s office, Dick announces that a patient whom “he had come to love” has died. Franz suggests that Dick take a trip and offers him a case with a Chilean man who has “a problem with his son.” When Dick asks what the problem is—“Alcoholism? Homosexuality?”—Franz replies saying, “A little bit of everything.”
Dick’s “love” for his patient is inappropriate and troubling and indicates that he hasn’t changed or improved since the events in Rome. The reference to the Chilean patient—who is gay and an alcoholic—reveals early-20th-century attitudes toward sexuality. Homosexuality was considered a disease that could, and should, be cured with psychiatric treatment.
Themes
Dick feels renewed and rested on the train trip to Laussane to meet Señor Pardo y Cuidad Real, the Chilean man, and his son. Meeting the father, Dick is amused to find that he is “as interesting psychologically” as the patient whom he is actually there to assess. Señor Pardo y Cuidad Real tells “the story of his son with no more self-control than a drunken woman,” explaining how he tried to cure his son’s sexuality by sending Francisco on vacation to Spain with a friend who took him to a brothel each night of their trip.
Dick is somewhat bemused by Señor Pardo y Cuidad Real and his attitude to his son’s afflictions. He sent his son on vacation with the hope of curing his sexuality by encouraging him to sleep with sex workers in Spanish brothels. Fitzgerald again highlights how homosexuality was perceived as a shameful illness during this period, and how people went to desperate lengths to “cure” it.
Themes
Talking to the son, Francisco, Dick observes that “There [i]s some manliness in the boy” but that he “ha[s] that typically roguish look in his eyes.” Dick warns Francisco that his life will be consumed by the task of “controlling [his] sensuality” and that he won’t have much energy for anything else. Hearing this “courageous” young man’s story, Dick assumes that Francisco’s “charm” is what makes it possible for him “to perpetuate his outrages.”
Fitzgerald’s bigoted depiction of Francisco reflects and reinforces the widespread homophobia present in early-20th-century society. He describes Francisco as “roguish” and portrays him as deceitful and manipulative when suggesting that he uses his charm to seduce young men.
Themes
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Dick isn’t that interested in the case, so as Francisco tells his “drab old story,” Dick turns his attention to his own experiences—“His love for Nicole and Rosemary, is friendship with Abe North, with Tommy Barban.” Dick reflects on the necessity of “taking all or nothing” and concludes that “There was some loneliness involved—so easy to be loved—so hard to love.”
Dick is lost and can no longer dedicate himself to his work. He is prone to long, philosophical musings about the past and feels a great deal of sadness when thinking of his loved ones. He used to have the ability to make those around him feel loved, warm, and pleasant, but now he finds it “hard to love.”
Themes
Dick’s meeting with Francisco is interrupted when Mr. Dumphry walks out “from the shrubbery” and greets them enthusiastically. Dick and Francisco both try ignore him, but he compliments Dick on the wonderful evening he had shared with the Divers in their villa in Tarmes. Before he turns to leave, Mr. Dumphry says, “I hear he’s dying” sympathetically. When Dick expresses confusion as to what he’s talking about, Dumphry explains that Mr. Warren is sick and staying in Lausanne.
Mr. Dumphry, a man whom Dick hardly remembers, is enthusiastic to greet Dick. This indicates how popular and charming Dick once was, just a few years ago. The sudden news that Nicole’s father is dying further emphasizes just how much has changed in the Divers’ lives in just a few short years.
Themes
Immediately calling on Mr. Warren’s doctor, Doctor Dangeu, Dick learns that Nicole’s father has alcoholism and will probably not live longer than a week. Neither Baby nor Nicole know of their father’s condition. Dick instructs Doctor Dangeu to consult a specialist.
It is no accident that Fitzgerald chooses to reveal that Mr. Warren, like Dick, is an alcoholic. The parallels between Mr. Warren and Dick become overwhelming: both men are father figures and both are alcoholics as a result of their excessive and lavish lifestyles. While Dick has not sexually abused his daughter as Mr. Warren did, he does have a troubling attraction to younger girls and daughter figures.
Themes
Dick meets with Señor Pardo y Cuidad Real that evening, where the latter begs Dick—on his knees—to take Francisco with him to the clinic. Dick refuses saying, “It’s impossible to commit a person on such grounds. I wouldn’t if I could.”
Despite Dick’s personal disapproval and near-repulsion at the thought of Francisco’s sexuality, Dick announces that it would be unethical to admit Francisco to the clinic on these grounds. Francisco’s father is desperate and upset—he is used to getting his way—but it seems that no sum of money will cure his son from his “disease.”
Themes
Dick finds Doctor Dangeu in the elevator. Mr. Warren is desperate to speak with Nicole and Doctor Dangeu wishes to know how to proceed. Reluctantly, Dick agrees to visit Mr. Warren that evening. In his dark suite, Mr. Warren’s “emaciated fingers” fiddle with a rosary. “I’ve been a bad man” admits Mr. Warren, before asking Dick for permission to see Nicole, citing that God “says to forgive and to pity.” Dick pretends to hesitate, telling Mr. Warren that he’ll have to consult with Franz, even though he’s already made up his mind. Dick tries to call Franz but can only reach Kaethe. Dick explains the situation, asking her to tell Franz but forgetting to instruct her not to tell Nicole.
Mr. Warren is extremely unwell. It appears as if his guilt about Nicole has been slowly devouring him, and he has recently turned to God and religion to find strength and ask for forgiveness for his sins. Dick decides that he will not permit Nicole to see her father—probably fearing that it will trigger another spell of poor mental health—but he promises that he will ask Franz anyway.
Themes
As Kaethe hurries from the train to meet Franz up on the mountain, she bumps into Nicole and the children. Kaethe tries to compliment Nicole on her wonderful parenting skills, but when Nicole rudely pulls herself away from Kaethe, she retaliates “deplorably” by telling Nicole about her father. Kaethe realizes her error immediately, but it is too late. By the time Franz arrives to make things right, Nicole has already made up her mind to leave for Lausanne right away—“If my father is dying […] I must go.”
Kaethe resents how horribly and snobbishly Nicole treats her, as if Kaethe were below her, and so when Nicole literally flinches at her touch, Kaethe snaps. She acts rashly, telling Nicole something she knows is unwise and unkind, just to feel powerful for a moment. Nicole has suffered a lifetime of trauma due to the sexual abuse she experienced as a child, but she doesn’t seem to be triggered by the mention of her father. In fact, her response is very normal, and she states that she must see him before he dies.
Themes
Meanwhile, Dick receives a call in his hotel room from Mr. Warren’s nurse, who tells Dick that her patient has disappeared. It’s “incredible,” Dick thinks, “A man in that condition to arise and depart.” When Franz rings, Dick admonishes him for telling Nicole the news, but Franz explains, “Kaethe told her, very unwisely.” Dick admits that only he can be to blame—“Never tell a thing to a woman till it’s done.”
Mr. Warren’s disappearance suggests that he became fearful of seeing Nicole and escaped before her arrival. Perhaps he was not ready to face the shame and dishonor of his actions, or perhaps he was scared of how she might have reacted. As Mrs. Warren’s first name, Devereux, suggests, he has wormed out of his responsibilities and abandoned Nicole once more.
Themes
Dick and Doctor Dangeu attempt to catch up with Mr. Warren at the train station but they’re too late. When Dick returns to the hotel, he finds Nicole in the lobby with “a tight purse to her lips that disquieted him.” Nicole is saddened to hear that her father has run off to Paris, but Dick tries to explain Mr. Warren’s motivations: “he got afraid, and off he went.” Nicole accuses Dick of being overinvolved but apologizes immediately and puts her hand on his.
Dick notices the “tight purse” on Nicole’s lips with caution—this is usually a sign that she is in danger of an outburst or relapse. Indeed, she snaps at Dick angrily, accusing him of being too controlling. Nicole apologizes immediately, however, and tries to make amends with Dick. This suggests that despite Nicole’s fragile mental health, she is still aware of how her behavior affects others and feels guilty about hurting her loved ones.
Themes
