Summary

At the beginning of Chapter 21, Truman is meeting Gloria at Howard Johnson’s on the New Jersey turnpike. They are reminiscing about the old days, their parties and restaurants, the people they used to know. Gloria tells Truman that they must accept that “the days of your Swans have passed” (411). They tell each other how much they have missed the other and Truman orders another round of drinks and clams. It is only when the waitress takes the order that the reader understands there is something wrong—Truman is actually alone.

It is 1893, and Truman is beginning to forget things about his life. He tells Jack that he had lunch with Gloria—“Gloria is dead, Truman,” Jack interjects (412). Apparently, Truman also now believes that Jack is holding him hostage. Even worse, he is forgetting words at the end of his life and...