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Mrs. Lardner
Jeremy Brothers is Mrs. Lardner’s friend, for whom she throws a “bon voyage bash” before he departs for a 6-month trip to Greece. At the party, it becomes clear that Jeremy is a drunken predator, and his racist behavior against Mr. Chang creates an unpleasant scene. Jeremy represents the stereotypically privileged male in American society. Besides being the story’s antagonist, he serves as a foil to Mr. Chang. Where Mr. Chang is hard-working, Jeremy is frivolous and leisurely; where Mr. Chang feels uncomfortable at the party filled with country club members, Jeremy is right at home; where Mr. Chang has his loving family surrounding him, Jeremy has alienated his loved ones. If Mr. Chang is most comfortable in “his own society,” as Mrs. Chang claims, then Jeremy is the quintessential member of “the American society.”
Jeremy Brothers Quotes in In the American Society
The In the American Society quotes below are all either spoken by Jeremy Brothers or refer to Jeremy Brothers . 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:
).
In the American Society
Quotes
Jeremy began to roar. “This is my party, my party, and I’ve never seen you before in my life.” My father backed up as Jeremy came toward him. “Who are you? WHO ARE YOU?”
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“Take off your shirt.”
“I do not taking orders like a servant,” announced my father stiffly.
“Take off your shirt, or I’m going to throw this jacket right into the pool, just right into this little pool here.” Jeremy held it over the water.
“Go ahead.”
“One hundred twelve-fifty,” taunted Jeremy. “One hundred twelve …”
My father flung the polo shirt into the water with such force that part of it bounced back up into the air like a fluorescent fountain. Then it settled into a soft heap on top of the water.
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“You girls are good swimmers,” he said finally. “Not like me.”
Then his shirt started moving again, and we trooped up the hill after it, into the dark.
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Jeremy Brothers Quotes in In the American Society
The In the American Society quotes below are all either spoken by Jeremy Brothers or refer to Jeremy Brothers . 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:
).
In the American Society
Quotes
Jeremy began to roar. “This is my party, my party, and I’ve never seen you before in my life.” My father backed up as Jeremy came toward him. “Who are you? WHO ARE YOU?”
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“Take off your shirt.”
“I do not taking orders like a servant,” announced my father stiffly.
“Take off your shirt, or I’m going to throw this jacket right into the pool, just right into this little pool here.” Jeremy held it over the water.
“Go ahead.”
“One hundred twelve-fifty,” taunted Jeremy. “One hundred twelve …”
My father flung the polo shirt into the water with such force that part of it bounced back up into the air like a fluorescent fountain. Then it settled into a soft heap on top of the water.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“You girls are good swimmers,” he said finally. “Not like me.”
Then his shirt started moving again, and we trooped up the hill after it, into the dark.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
