The Ruling Class Chapter Summary & Analysis - Act 2, Scenes 3 and 4 Summary

Act 2, Scenes 3 and 4 Summary

Scene 3 - The Master of Lunacy, Truscott, waits in the drawing room where there is even more Victorian atmosphere. Tucker dresses Jack in traditional British clothes and sends him inside, where he greets Truscott genially. Truscott tells him he's not actually there to formally commit him but to make a recommendation. Two doctors have recommended that Jack be committed, but Herder is against it. As Truscott takes snuff from a silver snuffbox, Jack struggles to retain control. Truscott asks him repeatedly whether he still thinks he's God, and for a while Jack is silent. Then, Jack begins to sing what sounds like an insane song. When Truscott joins in, it's revealed that it's their old school song. Their conversation detours briefly into reminiscences, but Truscott soon reintroduces the question of whether Jack thinks he's God.

Jack continues to struggle for control, as he explains that he's embarrassed to hear...
(read more)