Hag-Seed: Chapter 33 Summary & Analysis

The politicians pose for a picture outside the prison. They can all imagine the caption that will accompany its publication in the newspapers. Sal has gained weight with the years, but Tony is still “ultra-tailored.” Sebert looks like a seal, but Frederick is handsome and looks scornfully away from the camera. Accompanying them is a group of flunkies. Estelle stands with them; it’s her job to monitor the people watching the play with the Warden and soothe any anxieties that might arise.

Felix sits down behind the folding screen. Over the sailors’ audio feeds, he can hear Sal and Tony passing through security, joking with the guards. They’ve come from another function and have already had a few drinks; for them, this is just a pit stop at a “holding pen for bottom-feeding social misfits” before they can get back to more important things.

Sal O’Nally is feeling complacent. He’s agreed to see this play at the insistence of his adored Frederick, even though he plans to cancel the literacy program as soon as he returns to Ottawa—prisons are for keeping people locked up, not “spurious attempts to educate those who cannot, by their very natures, be educated.” Soon, Sal will also have to break it to Frederick that he must go to law school or else lose his monthly allowance. The arts are “a dead end,” especially once Tony becomes the Minister in charge of them. When a guard insists that Sal forfeit his cellphone, he blusteringly reminds him of his position, but Frederick gives a disapproving look so he complies.

Tony is thinking more strategically. Both of his companions want his support in the upcoming leadership race. Certainly, Tony owes Sal for all the help he’s given him, starting the day they ousted Felix Phillips; but he thinks it’s now better to ally himself with a candidate who owes him instead. He wonders how he can disentangle himself from Sal and forge an alliance with Sebert. He “affably” and cheerfully walks through the metal detector with his hands up, while Lonnie proceeds dolefully and Frederick looks “wide-eyed” at all these new surroundings.

Once inside the prison, the politicians are greeted by a group of men dressed as pirates who welcome them to “the good ship Tempest.” The Boatswain exhorts them not to be alarmed by anything that might occur; after all, they’re about to experience a piece of experimental theater. Estelle, whom Sal knows from committees and parties, waves them off with a smile.

Awkwardly, the other men follow Sal down the hall. The sailors bring up the rear, tossing confetti in front of them; Sal thinks that “these men are having way too much fun” to be prisoners. The Boatswain guides them to the screening room, where there’s a large screen and several sailors in black handing around soft drinks in blue and green cups. Watching from his hiding place, Felix sees TimEEz settle into a chair behind the men, ready to lift their security pagers. Sal takes a long sip of ginger ale, wishing it was spiked.

In the third row, Frederick finds himself seated beside Anne-Marie and introduces himself. When she gives her name, he recognizes her from some of the dance work she’s done; in fact, he’s watched her videos many times as inspiration for the work he wants to do as director. Anne-Marie expresses admiration for his chosen career path and raises her glass in a toast. His gaze strays to her bare shoulder.

Behind the folding screen, Felix bangs the floor with his cane. 8Handz stands with his hand over the Play button, but Felix looks around for Miranda. Suddenly he sees her, shimmering behind 8Handz’s shoulder. She tells him that “the hour’s now come.”