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Symbols
The ruby and emerald necklaces represent the risky nature of criminal enterprise. The ruby necklace is part of the Hotel Theresa haul, stolen by Freddie, Miami Joe, Arthur, and Pepper. As the unwilling fence for that operation, Carney finds his life endangered by the necklace before he even knows of its existence. Unbeknownst to the robbers, the necklace belongs to Lucinda Cole, gifted to her by the mobster Chink Montague. Montague’s men show up at Carney’s store in search of the jewelry even before Freddie and his accomplices make contact. Here, the novel highlights how uninvolved parties can become entangled in dangerous situations through mere association with the world of crime and theft. Similarly, the emerald necklace Linus and Freddie steal from Ambrose Van Wyck’s safe ends up in Carney’s safe simply because he is Freddie’s trusted cousin. Even more clearly than Lucinda Cole’s necklace, the Van Wyck piece is an obvious liability for Carney—Moskowitz informs him the emerald is “too hot” to be sold, meaning no one will buy it because of its connection to powerful, dangerous people. Significantly, Ed Bench treats the necklace as if it were the least valuable thing stolen from the safe, emphasizing the gap between different classes’ definitions of wealth. Although Carney successfully sells Montague’s necklace for a profit, Freddie loses his life because of the Van Wyck robbery. By using the necklaces to weigh the risk and reward of criminal enterprise and examine the discrepancies between different social classes’ perception of affluence, the novel investigates the tragic way capitalism forces people to prioritize material wealth over their own wellbeing.
Necklaces Quotes in Harlem Shuffle
The Harlem Shuffle quotes below all refer to the symbol of Necklaces. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 1, Chapter 5
Quotes
The man had a point, more than he knew. For Carney was not a fence.
Yes, a percentage of his showroom was stolen. TVs, radios back when he could still unload them, tasteful modern lamps, and other small appliances in perfect condition. He was a wall between the criminal world and the straight world, necessary, bearing the load. But when it came to precious metals and gems, he was more of a broker.
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Part 1, Chapter 9
Quotes
About a month later Carney received a package. He got an odd feeling and closed his office door and drew the blinds to the showroom. Inside the box, wrapped in newspaper like a fish, was Miss Lucinda Cole’s necklace. The ruby glared at him, a mean lizard eye. Pepper’s handwriting was childish. The note said, “You can split this with your cousin.” He didn’t. He sat on it for a year to let the heat die down. Buxbaum paid him and Carney put the money away for the apartment. “I may be broke sometimes, but I ain’t crooked,” he said to himself. Although, he had to admit, perhaps he was.
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Part 3, Chapter 8
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Later, Pepper explained it was the principle of the thing: Let white people think they can fuck all over you and they'll keep doing it.
That was two months after the night on Park Avenue. […] Carney said, “You said with the riots, what was the point? Everything keeps on the way it is, so all the protests were for nothing.”
Pepper said, “I am right in that. Grand jury had nothing to say about that cop, did it? He’s still on the job, right? But as it pertains to me shooting those dudes…maybe you start small and work your way up.”
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Get the entire Harlem Shuffle LitChart as a printable PDF.
Necklaces Symbol Timeline in Harlem Shuffle
The timeline below shows where the symbol Necklaces appears in Harlem Shuffle. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 3
...looking for Carney. They work for a man named Chink Montague, who lost a ruby necklace in the robbery. Knowing that Carney “handle[s] stuff sometimes,” they demand he get in touch...
(full context)
Part 1, Chapter 5
...protection money to Montague, so they expected the robbery to catch his interest. Unexpectedly, the necklace Montague wants returned was a gift for his girlfriend, Lucinda Cole, a dancer turned actress....
(full context)
Pepper does not believe Montague’s threats to “skin” whoever stole the necklace. Arthur thinks if Montague had connected them to Carney, they would know about it. Understanding...
(full context)
Part 1, Chapter 9
...Alma. A month later, Carney receives a package from Pepper. It contains Lucinda Cole’s ruby necklace—the one Montague was looking for. Carney waits a year before selling it to Buxbaum, thinking...
(full context)
Part 3, Chapter 2
...fearsome. Montague reminds Carney of their initial meeting, when he was looking for Lucinda Cole’s necklace, which he never found. Still, he is grateful the theft led to his association with...
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Part 3, Chapter 4
...Its monogram suggests it belonged to Linus. Inside are personal papers and an enormous emerald necklace shaped like a bird. He decided to open the briefcase after Aunt Millie’s house was...
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Part 3, Chapter 5
...Linus knows the combination. Freddie holds the briefcase while Linus piles things in, including the necklace. Suddenly, Linus’s father Ambrose appears. He is accustomed to being disappointed in Linus, considering the...
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...told Carney. He and Linus agree they need to wait before trying to sell the necklace. Linus becomes paranoid after hearing his old apartment was ransacked, worried his father’s men are...
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Part 3, Chapter 6
...exact reason Carney insists on helping his cousin. He has plans to sell the emerald necklace. Pepper agrees if Carney will throw in a recliner. Pepper tells Carney Mike used to...
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Part 3, Chapter 7
Carney heads out to Moskowitz’s shop. Carrying the emerald necklace with him makes him jumpy. He remembers the Theresa job and reflects that he is...
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...will take the emerald off his hands. But when he arrives, the jeweler refuses the necklace, saying it’s “too hot” and Van Wyck’s people have been asking about it. Moskowitz advises...
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Bench confiscates the necklace but is more interested in the other things Linus stole from the safe, which are...
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On the same day Carney takes the necklace to Moskowitz, Pepper guards the store. Like Carney, Pepper has a protest flyer in his...
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