Part 5: The Poet is Jealous, Chaps. 1-3, pp. 185-204 Summary

Chap. 1- Jaromil's uncle is jailed as a class enemy, and the first floor of the villa is occupied by another family. Maman is upset that Jaromil is studying politics. She goes into his locked desk drawer and sees his new poems that rhyme and are more down-to-earth. Maman weeps when Jaromil returns to the house, and he reassures her that he is still close to her. Maman is happy that the girl sounds young, inexperienced, and uneducated, thus not a rival to her influence. Jaromil tries to get permission to bring the girl to his room, but Maman refuses, though this would give her more independence too. Jaromil shows her his new poems, and Maman becomes happy again.

Chap. 2- Jaromil tries to write a poem...