Chapter 5 Summary

Joselito is a young Mexican peasant who is diagnosed with tuberculosis by a German doctor. Carl and the doctor discuss the options of treating Joselito either by chemicals or sending him to a sanitarium. Carl helps Joselito get a place in a nice sanitarium. Carl gets high and images from the sanitarium and the rest of his life mix together in a general hallucination.

Chapter 5 Analysis

Joselito is one of many background characters who rely on medical professionals to make decisions about his life. The conversations between Carl and the doctor do not take Joselito into consideration at all, but instead are interested in what looks best for them. At the same time, these professionals are also drug addicts whose choices are influenced more by their hallucinations than anything else.