Section 5 Summary

The last time Oceola traveled down from Harlem to play for Mrs. Ellsworth, she was treated like an ignorant child. As Oceola played, her benefactor reprimanded her decision to pursue love and marriage and accused her of giving up on art and music. She told Oceola that Pete would drain the music right out of her soul. "Art is bigger than love," she cried. Oceola agreed, but said that they could be enjoyed together.

As Oceola let her fingers slip into Negro blues and then heartfelt jazz, she played straight from her soul and sang of love and desire and loss.

She sang, "Oh, if I could holler/Like a mountain jack,/ I'd go up on de mountain/And call my baby back." Mrs. Ellsworth rose and replied, "And I would stand looking at the stars." (page 65.)

Section 5 Analysis

The last chapter of...