Previous
3. Duchess
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Lincoln Highway, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Stories, Truth, and Lies
Debts and Atonement
Maturity and Responsibility
Adventure
Pride vs. Humility
Summary
Analysis
The story flashes back to that morning, when Emmett wakes naked and groggy in Ma Belle’s establishment. Ma Belle explains that she stripped him because she didn’t want his dirty clothes on one of her beds, and that Duchess drugged him in the hopes of easing Emmett’s nerves about losing his virginity. Once he is dressed, Ma Belle offers him breakfast. She and the sex worker whom Duchess hired to sleep with Emmett explain that Mr. Hewett used to leave Duchess in the brothel when he was a young boy. Duchess used to work in the lounge, and Mr. Hewett would take the money he earned.
The fact that Duchess spent time in Ma Belle’s brothel as a child explains why he is so comfortable there—and why he doesn’t recognize that Emmett might not be equally comfortable. This kind of self-centered thinking speaks to Duchess’s immaturity, as his inconsiderate nature seems to come as much from ignorance as it does from malice.
Themes
After breakfast, Emmett asks Ma Belle for an address where he can find Duchess. They realize Duchess forgot to leave an address, so Ma Belle searches the Social Register for information on Woolly’s family, since they are old money in New York and Duchess mentioned he was staying at Woolly’s sister’s house. However, he didn’t say which sister, so Emmett takes a train to Woolly’s eldest sister’s house in New Jersey. She sends him away and frustratedly asks why so many people are coming by to ask about Woolly.
The Social Register is an index of high-society American families, originally focused on the “old money” families of the Northeast. Woolly’s family’s place in the Social Register emphasizes that he comes from extreme privilege, in contrast to his friends. Meanwhile, the fact that Duchess forgot to leave an address for Emmett hints that Duchess is not always as clever as he thinks he is.
Themes
Emmett takes a taxi part of the way to Sarah’s house before running out of money and continuing the trip on foot. As he walks, he thinks of Charlie Watson, who, for all his shortcomings, never betrayed Emmett the way Mr. Hewett has betrayed Duchess. He marvels at the fact that Duchess was the only one of his friends innocent of the crime that sent him to Salina. Finally, Emmett reaches Sarah’s house. He asks to speak to Duchess in private. When they are alone, he grabs Duchess aggressively.
Emmett’s ability to empathize with Duchess highlights that he is more mature than his friend. He has taken to heart Sister Agnes’s words about extending charity to everyone. Moreover, Emmett is able to understand people beyond the level of understanding Duchess uses to manipulate others. He recognizes, with no ulterior motive, why Duchess is fixated on revenge. Despite understanding Duchess, though, Emmett does not excuse his actions, and he is still furious when the two reunite.
Themes
