Childan and Betty's Unspoken Desire

The antique dealer's infatuation with a Japanese woman is tangled with his hunger for place, and it ends in humiliation and growth.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Beautiful Customer

A Beautiful Customer Context Robert Childan is moved by the young Japanese woman who visits his store with her husband. Her dark eyes and tasteful earrings make him imagine a love across the race divide. Turning Point He learns she is married and forces himself to think only of business. But the seed of desire is planted. Significance Betty represents the unattainable combination of beauty, place, and acceptance for Childan. His feelings are as much about class as about love.

The Dinner Invitation

The Dinner Invitation Context The Kasouras invite Childan to dinner, and he is ecstatic. A social relationship outside business is a step toward equal place. Turning Point At dinner he is acutely aware of Betty's grace. He wants to be worthy of their world, but he keeps speaking and acting like a barbarian. Significance The dinner turns his infatuation into a painful self-examination. The more he desires acceptance, the more he reveals his failure.

The Gift Meant for Betty

The Gift Meant for Betty Context Childan prepares a gift of new American jewelry to give to Betty, hoping to win a glance from her. He devises a pretext that will seem proper to Paul. Turning Point Paul intercepts the gift and never shares it with his wife. The secret courtship is stopped before it can begin. Significance Paul knows exactly what Childan intended. The gift is returned without ever reaching Betty, leaving Childan even more exposed.

The Strain of the Meal

The Strain of the Meal Context Childan's political remarks at dinner frighten and offend Betty and Paul. He defends Nazi victory and attacks the possibility of Jewish rule, revealing his own inner ugliness. Turning Point Betty quietly disagrees, and the meal continues in silence. The dream of a personal bond between them evaporates under the weight of their real differences. Significance Unspoken desire is not enough to cross the gap of history and power. Betty remains forever beyond Childan's reach.

Letting Go

Letting Go Context Childan eventually abandons his scheme to court Betty. He accepts Paul's guidance about the Edfrank pieces and instead devotes himself to the new art. Turning Point His desire for Betty becomes irrelevant next to his desire for dignity. The connection he sought from her is replaced by a connection to his own work. Significance Childan's unspoken love is transmuted into the love of his own culture. Betty remains an emblem of the acceptance he will have to create for himself.

when Betty Kasoura first enters the shop

when the Kasouras invite him to their apartment

when Childan brings a piece of Edfrank jewelry to Paul's office

during the politically wrong dinner conversation

after Paul returns the gift and demands a reckoning