Previous
Book 1, Chapter 2
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Another Country, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Race in America
Love and Sexuality
High Art vs. Low Art
Alienation and New York City
Summary
Analysis
The following March, Vivaldo sits at his desk and stares at his novel. The chapter he is working on is not going well, which is also the case with the novel in general. Vivaldo is having a hard time understanding the people he is writing about. Every time he tries to put words in their mouths, the words feel false. He has been staying up entire nights, smoking and thinking, but he never makes any progress. On this particular day, he decides it would be best to get some sleep because he is planning to see Ida the following day.
Vivaldo’s struggle to write his novel is one of the novel’s key metaphors for social alienation. Vivaldo cannot write about the world surrounding him because he cannot relate to or understand it. In this novel, artistic creation—particularly the production of so-called “high-brow” art—is closely related to one’s ability to meaningfully depict the surrounding world.
Themes
Vivaldo and Ida have been dating for a while and are planning to attend a party at Richard and Cass’s new apartment to celebrate the publication of Richard’s new novel. Vivaldo has read Richard’s novel and did not care for it, though he would never admit that to Richard. Vivaldo looks outside at the streets surrounding his apartment. He wonders if he ever really knew anything meaningful about the city at all.
Although Ida is wary of white people, she is still willing to date a white person. However, the racial element of their relationship is something that will be at the forefront of the remainder of the novel. Meanwhile, Vivaldo, like Cass, is struggling with how to speak to Richard about his novel. Vivaldo knows how difficult it is to write a novel and does not feel comfortable diminishing his friend’s efforts.
Themes
Outside Vivaldo’s apartment, men and women walk by, often in a haggard state. Vivaldo tries to imagine what their lives are like after they pass out of his line of sight. After finding he has a hard time projecting outward, he tries to look inward instead. He thinks about how he used to go to Harlem to find sex workers. Vivaldo got a thrill out of going somewhere that he imagined was dangerous and exciting, though, in reality, he now thinks he could have found the same experience anywhere.
Vivaldo worries that Rufus and every other Black person from Harlem felt that Vivaldo was using them for titillation. He worries that he was patronizing and degrading, which is why Rufus sometimes despised him. Vivaldo wonders if he secretly hated Rufus because he was Black, and if Rufus hated him because he was white.
Vivaldo went to find sex workers in Harlem because he thought of it as a dangerous place, and he fetishized the experiences he had there. Now, he has matured and realizes Harlem and its people are no different than what he would elsewhere.
Themes
Get the entire Another Country LitChart as a printable PDF.
Vivaldo recalls a time from when he was in the army. He was stationed in Munich and hanging out in a cellar with a friend who was Black. They were alone in the cellar with a girl, and one of the men dared the other to pull his penis out. In the end, both men showed their genitalia, more to each other than the woman. Vivaldo remembers thinking that the other man’s penis was very similar to his, and he found relief in that fact. After this incident, Vivaldo recalls having nightmares about the other man chasing him with a knife, seeking revenge, though Vivaldo is not sure what the man wanted revenge for.
Vivaldo’s memory is less about sexuality and more about race. Vivaldo’s reaction suggests that he expected his friend’s penis to be completely different than his—as if his friend belonged to a different species. His relief signals a new level of understanding and comfortability. However, his dreams suggest that he feels guilty about being so fearful of Black male sexuality in the first place. It is unclear whether he has reconciled his feelings on the subject.
Themes
Shaking these thoughts for his mind, Vivaldo begins contemplating Ida instead. He thinks about the first time he and Ida met. Rufus invited Vivaldo to his house and introduced him to Mrs. Scott (his mother) and Ida. Rufus had a casual and teasing relationship with his mother that Vivaldo appreciated. Rufus’s mother did her best to make Vivaldo feel at home and gave him a beer to drink while they waited for Ida to get ready.
Unlike her children, Mrs. Scott appears entirely comfortable around white people and does her best to put Vivaldo at ease. Despite his friendship with Rufus, this is the only time Vivaldo gets to interact with his family before his funeral. As such, prior to Rufus’s death, Vivaldo never got a sense of what his family life was like.
Themes
Rufus asked Mrs. Scott about what was going on in the neighborhood. She told him that one of the neighborhood girls, Vickie, was pregnant and about to give birth. Vickie is young and Rufus was shocked to learn she was pregnant. He noted that she is in a bad situation and although his mother tried to put a positive spin on it, Vivaldo could tell Rufus was right.
Mrs. Scott tries to be positive about Vickie’s situation, even though both she and Rufus know it is an unenviable position to be in. Most young people in Vickie’s situation can barely take care of themselves, let alone a child.
Themes
Then, Ida came downstairs and distracted everyone with her presence. Vivaldo remembers thinking she looked beautiful and recalls her being struck by him as well. Mrs. Scott asked Rufus and Ida where they were planning to go. Rufus explained that he had promised to take Ida out dancing. Mrs. Scott put a coat on her daughter and sent the group on their way. She also told Vivaldo he was welcome in her home any time and encouraged him to come back.
Ida’s beauty is remarked upon—either internally or externally—by nearly everyone that meets her. Here, Ida appears happier and more idealistic than her older self. Meanwhile, Mrs. Scott’s offer to Vivaldo, though genuine, never comes to fruition until after Rufus dies.
Themes
Vivaldo pulls himself out of his memories and tries to redirect his attention toward sleeping. However, every time he tries to go to sleep, his unfinished novel calls out to him. He looks at his desk and thinks about the various sex workers he has slept with. His memories give him an erection, which only frustrates him more. He closes his eyes and thinks about how he desperately needs love in his life—and to finish his novel.
Here, Baldwin explicitly links Vivaldo’s failure to write with his sexual frustration. It also raises questions about Vivaldo’s relationship with Ida, which Baldwin has yet to show. Does Vivaldo have love in his life? Or, like Rufus, has he mistaken lust for love?
Themes
Ida is ecstatic as she walks with Vivaldo to Cass and Richard’s new apartment. It is a beautiful day outside and Ida is thrilled that Vivaldo is taking her to meet with his friends. It is the first time that Ida and Vivaldo have gone to a social function as a couple, which has Vivaldo both excited and nervous. As Vivaldo and Ida walk the streets together, Vivaldo feels judgment from white passersby. However, Ida seems not to notice their glances and continues walking without a care in the world.
Generally, it is the Black characters in the novel who are conscious of their skin color when walking in public with white people. However, here, it is Vivaldo who is worried about what other people think. Unlike Ida, Vivaldo is not used to being judged for the color of his skin.
Themes
Vivaldo notices Ida humming and asks if she will sing to him. Ida is too shy at first, but then she sings the lyrics, “I woke up this morning with my mind / Stayed on Jesus.” Vivaldo tells her the song is beautiful and asks if Ida is still religious. Ida says that she thinks she is. Her faith is ambivalent but always seems to come back to her when she needs it.
Although religion is not front and center in this novel, it does inform the sensibilities of Ida and Rufus, in particular. For Ida, religion usually makes its way into her music. Meanwhile, for Rufus, religion was something he sought out of desperation.
Themes
As they near, Cass and Richard’s place, Vivaldo tells Ida that he loves her very much and she says the same in return. Vivaldo admits that he worried Ida might think he was annoying, but Ida assures him that nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, she thinks he has been a great help in the wake of Rufus’s death; she is not sure how she would have gotten through it otherwise.
Here, it is clear Ida and Vivaldo are still getting to know each other; they are in a sort of complicated honeymoon phase that is especially odd and difficult because of Rufus’s suicide. Both Ida and Vivaldo are trying to find their way in the world following the loss of Rufus, which led them to being together.
Themes
Just as Vivaldo and Ida approach Richard and Cass’s building, Vivaldo realizes he did not bring Richard a gift. He feels bad because the party is supposed to be a celebration. Vivaldo questions Ida about their relationship, implying that he would like to see her a lot more in the future. Ida’s eyes go wide at this remark, and she promises to discuss their future more after the party.
Again, it is clear that Vivaldo and Ida have not had a real discussion about the nature of their relationship. From their behavior in this passage, it seems that Vivaldo is eager to see more of Ida, while Ida is much less certain of him. She obviously likes Vivaldo, but her feelings appear more complicated.
Themes
Ida and Vivaldo take the elevator up to Richard and Cass’s apartment, and Cass greets them at the door. When they step inside, they hear Richard yelling sternly and Michael screaming. Evidently, Richard is punishing Michael for misbehaving. Cass apologizes for the ruckus and begins showing Ida and Vivaldo around the new apartment, which is quite impressive.
Richard and Cass are the only characters in the novel who regularly host large groups of people, and this is because they are the only ones with the means to do so. In particular, Richard’s book deal seems to have done wonders for their finances.
Themes
Ida asks Cass what it is like to have a famous husband. Cass assures her that Richard is not famous yet and his profession is not all it is cracked up to be. She jokingly tells Ida she should convince Vivaldo to become a plumber instead. Despite Cass’s humble remarks about her situation, she is very grateful that things have worked out for Richard, and she is excited for the party.
On the one hand, Cass is happy with her new station in life because of Richard’s recent financial success. However, there is some truth to her cynical thoughts about professional writers, which will continue to come to the surface as the story progresses.
Themes
Cass fixes Vivaldo and Ida a drink while discussing the guests that will be coming over. In particular, she is excited about a television producer, Steve Ellis. Ida recognizes the name and gets excited because Ellis produced an award-winning show featuring a number of Black actors. Additionally, Cass tells them that Richard’s editor and another writer whose name she cannot remember will be in attendance.
Again, Baldwin provides a sense that Richard’s novel is more successful than he and Cass have let on. Suddenly, they seem to have a lot of money and quite a few famous and influential friends. Even Ida, who is not a part of the entertainment world at all, knows someone who will be attending the party.
Themes
Though she is happy for Richard, she does not like being a host to artistic types. She thinks they take their professions much too seriously. Vivaldo jokingly warns her to get used to it. Cass laughs in agreement and then shows Vivaldo and Ida a copy of Richard’s book. She says, “It’s even been compared to Crime and Punishment—because they both have such a simple story line, I guess.” Her remark earns her a raised eyebrow from Vivaldo.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment is widely considered one of the great works of Russian literature. Although at first the comparison seems flattering, Cass quickly undermines the compliment. Her comment makes it clear that she does not respect Richard’s book or think it should be in the same conversation with high-brow works such as Crime and Punishment.
Themes
Ida looks at Richard’s book and then teasingly tells Vivaldo she knows something that he doesn’t: Cass’s full name. Vivaldo admits he has forgotten Cass’s full name—Clarissa—in part because he doesn’t think it suits her. Cass switches the subject to let Vivaldo know that Eric is coming back to the United States after spending time abroad in France. Evidently, Eric was cast in a Broadway production and is coming back for the show. The thought of Eric’s return excites Vivaldo, and he assures Ida that she will like him.
While “Cass” is a very casual-sounding name that does not denote any particular class status, “Clarissa” is rather refined. Baldwin’s implication is that Richard included his wife’s full name to lend his novel credibility by implying the person who wrote it is of high class. Although high-brow literature is not exclusively for high-class people, there is a strong connection between the two that Richard is trying to exploit.
Themes
As Cass, Vivaldo, and Ida discuss Eric, Richard emerges from the bedroom, still annoyed with Michael for misbehaving. However, his mood quickly lightens after he spots Vivaldo and fixes himself a drink. Richard takes Vivaldo aside and they discuss the book’s publication. At one point, Richard changes the subject to ask about Vivaldo’s interest in “colored girls.” Vivaldo does not like Richard’s tone and tells him so. They get into a brief spat, though they quickly patch things up. Vivaldo wonders if Richard is being snippy with him because he knows Vivaldo did not like the book.
Vivaldo senses racism in Richard’s remark and quickly shuts down the line of inquiry. The implication of Richard’s words is that Vivaldo must fetishize Black women—otherwise, Richard does not know why Vivaldo would be with Ida. Although Richard’s racism is what upsets Vivaldo first and foremost, there is also a sense that he worries Richard might be right. He knows he has fetishized Black women in the past, and he does not want to repeat the same mistake.
Themes
Meanwhile, Ida helps Cass fix lunch in the kitchen. Once lunch is ready, the four friends eat together and drink champagne. Then, Vivaldo and Ida put on music and dance, while Richard and Cass excuse themselves to prepare for the party. Ida encourages Vivaldo to speak with the party guests because many of them are connections he could use to get his book published. Vivaldo begrudgingly agrees to do as she says.
Similar to Cass, Vivaldo does not like networking at parties in the hopes of advancing his career. He seems to think it is below him as an artist, even if it is necessary to get something published. Meanwhile, Ida cannot comprehend why he wouldn’t want to talk to people that could help him achieve his dreams.
Themes
Finally, guests begin to arrive, the first of which is Steve Ellis, the television producer. After shaking hands with Richard, Ellis turns to Ida and asks if she is an actress. Ida assures him she is not. In response, Ellis tells her that she should be and gives her his card. Thinking Ellis is being condescending, Vivaldo forces himself into the conversation. Seeing that Vivaldo is upset, Ellis invites him for a drink off to the side.
Ellis is the man whose name Ida had previously recognized because of his work with African American talent. Vivaldo assumes Ellis is being condescending because he would have no way of judging Ida other than by her beauty. He worries that Ellis might be trying to take advantage of Ida.
Themes
Ellis asks Vivaldo about himself, so Vivaldo talks about his novel. Ellis acts unimpressed when Vivaldo says the project is about Brooklyn, calling it “old-fashioned.” Vivaldo responds that Ellis probably doesn’t like his idea because it doesn’t have television potential. Ellis tells Vivaldo he should not be so snobbish about popular entertainment. He also assures Vivaldo that he did not mean anything by the way he talked to Ida; he claims he would talk the same way to anyone he met.
Here, Vivaldo’s artistic sensibilities clash with Ellis’s sense of the modern world. Vivaldo views television as a lesser medium of art (or perhaps not art at all). As such, he does not appreciate Ellis’s attempts to get Ida involved in it. There is also a hint of jealousy; Vivaldo does not want Ida spending time with another man who could do more for her than Vivaldo could.
Themes
Ellis tells Vivaldo that he likes him, though he thinks he needs to lighten up. Then, Ellis ends his conversation with Vivaldo and goes to chat with Richard. Left alone, Vivaldo thinks about how Ellis might be right on all accounts. He worries that he might have treated Ellis poorly simply because Ellis is more powerful and successful than him.
Although Vivaldo is a flawed character, one of his redeeming qualities is that he is always reflecting on his actions. When someone criticizes him, he takes their criticism to heart and mulls it over in his head.
Themes
Vivaldo returns to Ida, who is talking to Loring, Richard’s editor. Loring explains that Ida was trying to tell him about Vivaldo’s novel, though she does not seem to know much about it. Vivaldo responds that Ida does not know about the novel because there is not much to know—Vivaldo himself is unsure of what to make of it. Loring encourages Vivaldo to reach out to him whenever he finishes his manuscript; Richard has vouched for Vivaldo’s talent, and Loring is interested in reading something from him.
It seems that Ida has been doing Vivaldo’s networking for him, perhaps because she does not think he will do it himself. Indeed, when Vivaldo talks to Loring, he does not do a good job of selling himself. Perhaps he simply does not want to get involved with the business side of things at all until he feels he has something worth selling.
Themes
After Vivaldo finishes speaking with Loring, he pulls Ida aside and tells her he wants to leave. Ida does not want to leave yet, partially because she knows Vivaldo should be connecting with people at the party. Annoyed, Vivaldo implies that Ida only wants to stay at the party so she can keep talking to Ellis. Ida does not like Vivaldo’s insinuation, and she responds coldly. Vivaldo knows he has made a mistake and tries to patch it up, but to no avail. Ida leaves him to go fix herself a drink.
Again, Ida expresses more concern for Vivaldo’s career than Vivaldo himself. For Ida, who grew up in poverty and remains quite poor, the idea that one would pass up an opportunity for success is ludicrous. This section marks the ending of Vivaldo and Ida’s honeymoon period, as they get into their first fight, and Ida seems to be second-guessing her initial impressions of Vivaldo.
Themes
While Ida is away, Cass introduces Vivaldo to Sydney Ingram, a young man who just published his first novel. For the first and only time of the evening, Vivaldo is actually excited to meet one of Richard’s guests. He has heard good things about Ingram’s novel and has been meaning to read it. Ingram, Vivaldo, and Cass briefly chat about the novel’s release, as well as Ingram’s current writing project, which is apparently a love story set in the city.
Vivaldo is interested in Ingram because he respects his artistic output, unlike other people at the party (Richard included). Cass, too, seems interested in Ingram for similar reasons. Additionally, Ingram’s upcoming novel sounds similar to what Vivaldo is trying to write, which Steve Ellis called “old-fashioned.”
Themes
After finishing his chat with Ingram, Vivaldo goes looking for Ida and finds her sitting alone and crying in one of the bedrooms. Vivaldo apologizes to Ida for his comment about Ellis. However, Ida is still angry. She says, “You think I’m nothing but a whore [...] All you white bastards are the same.” Vivaldo reassures Ida that he did not mean to insinuate anything so crass. He apologizes profusely and eventually Ida forgives him. Once Ida feels better, she and Vivaldo say goodbye to everyone at the party and go home together.
Ida thinks that Vivaldo meant to imply she planned to sleep with Ellis so she could get on television. Although Vivaldo insists that is not what he meant at all, he is not being entirely honest. Though Ida’s formulation is much harsher than Vivaldo’s, Vivaldo was momentarily jealous of what Ellis could offer Ida and what she might offer him in return.
Themes
After dinner, Vivaldo and Ida go to bed together. The next morning, Vivaldo wakes up before Ida and stares at her, thinking about her romantic past before he entered the picture. When Ida wakes up, Vivaldo asks her about her former love life, and specifically if she has ever been with a white man before. Ida says she has not and asks Vivaldo if he has been with a Black woman. Vivaldo says that he has, but only sex workers. After this conversation, they have passionate sex and then Ida goes and takes a shower. While Ida is in the bathroom, Vivaldo falls asleep. When he wakes up, he finds Ida has tidied up his apartment and has started making breakfast for the two of them.
Even in the bedroom, Vivaldo and Ida are thinking along racial lives. Race is something that dominates their world, whether they like it and or not, and it even appears in their most intimate moments. Ida previously accused Vivaldo of treating her like a sex worker, and Vivaldo does not help his case by having not been with a Black woman unless she was a sex worker. However, Ida seems willing to get over Vivaldo’s comment, as she begins playing a domestic role in his life.
Themes
