Book 2, Chapter 5 Summary

Amory contemplate his future. He has no money other than the Lake Geneva estate he inherited on his mother's death. He has an inner conversation with himself to figure out what to do. He sits in New York City on a rainy day, examining his life. Amory attends Monsignor Darcy's funeral. He wishes for a life like Darcy's in which he can give security to others.

Amory gets a ride home from a stranger. The person in the car asks Amory questions about work and encourages him to find work out West. The driver ridicules idealists, intellectuals and particularly socialists. They get into an argument about class struggle. Amory begins a long lecture about intellectual freedom and the need to live outside of society's roles, particularly marriage. The person in the car is interested in hearing what Amory has to say...