Chapter 7 Summary

In this meandering chapter that plunges into and out of several characters' consciousnesses, it becomes apparent that there is no real plot for this novel because there is no real purpose to the characters' lives. They are narcissistically obsessed with themselves, their appearance to others, and their social ranking within the artistic firmament to nurture other, grander ambitions that might bring them into dramatic encounters with fate and other people. They express their frustrations by lashing out at their peers rather than by taking direct action to change their circumstances, or to overcome adversity in a somewhat heroic fashion, which might feed a standard plot line. In this long chapter, the characters seem bored with themselves and with others. It is therefore inevitable that the reader might feel claustrophobic in the midst of this marathon Christmas party at Basil Valentine's flat. As a...