Chapter 28 Summary

Japhy's big farewell party finally arrives. Many guests arrive, and the party grows into a huge affair. Rheinhold Cacoethes arrives early and spends a large amount of time offering his snide critical opinions on many other writers and poets. For example, he states that Ray is no good because he is always drunk. Henry Morley makes a brief appearance but quickly leaves, which disappoints Ray. Japhy's father shows up, dances wildly with a tall girl and spends some time talking with Ray. Alvah, Japhy and some other partygoers strip naked and spend several hours nude. Ray finds it amusingly incongruous to see nude men conversing with clothed men as if nothing was out of the ordinary. The party becomes enormous and wild and then dwindles as the night passes.

Chapter 28 Analysis

Much of Chapter Twenty-Eight is devoted to some lengthy comments made by...