The Manchurian Candidate Chapter Summary & Analysis | Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Summary

Recently returned from the Korean War, Medal of Honor honoree Sergeant Raymond Shaw pays a visit to a soldier's family. Without knowing why, the dispassionate Shaw finds himself compelled to have lunch with Arthur Mavole, whose son Ed served with him and died in action. A local reporter comes by for an interview, since Shaw's heroism has granted him celebrity. He is due in Washington within the week to accept his Medal of Honor, and so Shaw's taking time out to visit the family of a fallen comrade is newsworthy indeed. After coffee, the three travel to the Mavole home to visit Ed's mother. Though Sergeant Shaw did not see Ed Mavole die, he concocts a story on the spot to give the family an extra sense of pride.

Early the next morning, a sharp and insistent knocking on his hotel room door interrupts Shaw and the young newspaperwoman in...
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