Perestroika 4.2

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Summary

Prior decides to pay Joe a visit at his office to see what he looks like. Belize reluctantly goes with him. When Prior sees Joe, he makes a comment about Harper. Joe wonders how he knows his wife. Before he walks out, Prior belittles Joe's job as a clerk filing things. Belize has a look at Joe, and they instantly recognize each other, but Belize denies that she is Roy's nurse. As Prior and Belize are about to leave, Joe approaches them and questions how Prior knows Harper. Prior pretends he is a mental patient and that Belize is his nurse, and they never answer any of Joe's questions.

Notes

  • Whore of Babylon (223)- figure, in the christian religion, of great or supreme evil
  • Marlboro Man (223)- image of a rugged cowboy used by the Phillip Morris company for the brand of Marlboro cigarette

Commentary

Study Questions

  1. What does Prior say his new hobby is?
  2. Who does Prior say Joe resembles?
  3. Prior says the "Whore of Babylon," referring to which character?
  4. What does Prior tell Belize that Joe makes him feel like?
  5. Prior pretends that his will is being contested, which refers to what legal term?

External Resources

Works Cited