The narrative intensifies as the past and present collide, revealing the volatile relationships within the circus and the poignant struggles of aging. In 1931, Jacob and Marlena's forbidden romance blossoms amidst violence and betrayal, while in the present, an elderly Jacob confronts the indignities of old age and fading memory. These chapters mark a crucial turning point, exposing the dark underbelly of the circus and setting the stage for the story's climax.
Chapter 16: My name isn't Rosie. It's Rosemary.
Ninety-three-year-old Jacob Jankowski startles awake in his nursing home, calling his nurse "Rosie." Rosemary gently corrects him, revealing he's been talking in his sleep, lost in memories. Jacob is horrified, seeing it as a sign of his failing mind. He confesses his fear to Rosemary, lamenting that "it's all downhill from here." This incident forces him to confront recent lapses, like failing to recognize his own great-grandchildren.
This chapter delves into the theme of Aging, Dignity, and Mortality. Jacob's terror isn't of death, but of losing his memories and mental faculties. He describes his brain as a universe "whose gases get thinner and thinner at the edges," a metaphor for his fading grasp on the present. His isolation is palpable; family members are strangers, and his past feels more real than his current existence. The chapter frames the entire novel as an act of remembrance against the fog of old age.
Chapter 17: Jestes dobrq dziewczynkq.
Back in 1931, Jacob comforts Marlena Rosenbluth after August Rosenbluth's savage beating of Rosie. Marlena recounts meeting August at seventeen, escaping an arranged marriage. August, the charismatic equestrian director, seemed like a romantic escape, but pressured her into a hasty marriage. Despite their connection, Marlena rejects Jacob's advances, stating, "I made my bed, and now I have to lie in it." Later, Jacob learns the gruesome details of Rosie’s beating from Walter and other workers. Overcome with guilt, he gets whiskey from Walter to bring to Rosie as an apology.
In the menagerie, Jacob witnesses a Polish worker named Greg speaking to Rosie in Polish, and she responds. Jacob has a stunning epiphany: Rosie doesn't understand English commands, only Polish. He tests his theory, and she obeys perfectly. This discovery is a monumental turning point. Over the next ten days, Jacob coaches August on Polish commands. August transforms, becoming charming, kind, and generous, never once striking Rosie. This period of peace, however, feels precarious, highlighting the theme of Illusion vs. Reality. August lavishes gifts on everyone, giving Marlena a diamond choker and Jacob a gold pocket watch. Rosie's debut performance is a spectacular success, delighting Uncle Al and showering the circus with much-needed money.
Chapter 18: You're my wife, Marlena!
Following the triumphant show, Marlena touches Jacob’s arm in a moment of shared joy, a gesture August witnesses from afar. Marlena, unaware, asks Jacob to help her prepare a surprise celebration for August in her dressing tent. When August arrives, he is not pleased but cold and menacing. His paranoia has twisted the innocent celebration into proof of an affair. He launches into a terrifying, violent rage, verbally abusing Marlena, destroying the sequined headpiece she lovingly made for Rosie, and finally attacking her physically.
Jacob intervenes, and the two men engage in a brutal fight that spills out of the tent. Roustabouts separate them, and Earl, the head of security, steps in to subdue August. Walter takes the badly beaten Jacob back to the stock car, where he tends to his wounds. Later that night, a bruised and terrified Marlena appears at the stock car. In the quiet space among the horses, she tells Jacob she is leaving August. Their shared trauma and vulnerability culminate in a moment of deep connection, solidifying the theme of Love, Passion, and Forbidden Romance as she falls asleep on his shoulder.
Chapter 19: Still no sign of your family, Mr. Jankowski?
The story returns to the present day. Jacob, feeling lucid and excited for the circus outing, gets dressed up with help from his nurse, Rosemary. He waits in the nursing home lobby as, one by one, the other residents are picked up by their families. As time passes, he becomes the only one left. His anxiety and disappointment grow until Rosemary delivers the devastating news: his family forgot it was their turn to visit, and his son Simon has made "other plans."
Jacob is crushed by this casual abandonment, and his carefully constructed composure shatters. He weeps openly, mourning not just the missed circus but his profound loneliness and irrelevance in his own family's life. To compound his misery, Rosemary reveals that this is her last day; she is moving away to be with her family. Jacob is stunned, realizing he is losing one of the few people who treats him with kindness and dignity. The chapter is a stark portrayal of the indignities of old age, where one is subject to the whims and forgetfulness of others and cherished connections are severed without warning.
Chapter 20: Touch me, Jacob.
In the past, Marlena officially leaves August, who collapses into a pathetic display of weeping and begging before screaming threats after her. Jacob helps her check into a hotel, where they are met with judgmental stares due to their battered faces. Shortly after, Uncle Al summons Jacob and reveals the circus's dark secret: August is a "paragon schnitzophonic" (paranoid schizophrenic). Al dismisses the beating as a symptom of August's illness and demands Jacob convince Marlena to return to him for the good of the show. When Jacob refuses, Al blackmails him by threatening the lives of Walter and Camel, whom he knows is a stowaway. This confrontation exposes the brutal pragmatism behind the theme of Survival in a Harsh World.
Later, August approaches Jacob, attempting a superficial reconciliation. When Jacob rebuffs him, August performs an act of casual cruelty, flicking his lit cigarette into Rosie's mouth. Realizing Marlena is in danger, Jacob rushes to her hotel. He learns August has already been there. Marlena refuses to move, recounting August's long history of violence. Overwhelmed and terrified, she asks Jacob to stay with her. This plea breaks the final barrier between them. They make love, and in the aftermath, they share their life stories, consummating not just a physical relationship but a deep emotional bond forged in shared trauma and a desperate need for solace.
Key Events
- Rosie's Secret Revealed: Jacob discovers Rosie understands Polish, transforming her potential.
- A Fleeting Peace: August's kindness while training Rosie creates an illusory happiness.
- A Fateful Party: Marlena's surprise party triggers August's violent paranoia.
- The Breaking Point: August attacks Marlena, leading to a brutal fight with Jacob.
- Marlena's Escape: Marlena leaves August, seeking refuge with Jacob.
- Uncle Al's Threat: Uncle Al blackmails Jacob, threatening Walter and Camel's lives.
- Love's Embrace: Jacob and Marlena consummate their relationship, finding solace.
- Present-Day Abandonment: Jacob's family forgets him, deepening his loneliness.
Character Development
- Jacob Jankowski: He transitions from passive observer to active protector, culminating in his love for Marlena. In the present, his vulnerability exposes his fear of mental decay.
- Becomes physically confrontational with August
- Consummates his love for Marlena
- Experiences profound loneliness in the present
- Marlena Rosenbluth: Her backstory reveals her trapped existence. August's assault breaks her passivity, leading her to leave him and embrace her feelings for Jacob.
- Reveals her past and reasons for marrying August
- Endures August's violent attack
- Musters the courage to leave August
- August Rosenbluth: The diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia adds a disturbing layer, showcasing his terrifying unpredictability.
- Displays charming kindness while training Rosie
- Falls into violent, paranoid rage
- Is revealed to have paranoid schizophrenia
- Uncle Al: He is revealed as ruthless, willing to blackmail Jacob, showing his folksy charm is a facade.
- Blackmails Jacob to protect the circus
- Reveals August's diagnosis to Jacob
- Prioritizes profit and control above all else
- Rosemary: Jacob's nurse provides compassion, contrasting with his family's indifference, making her departure devastating.
- Treats Jacob with kindness and dignity
- Reveals her departure to Jacob
- Highlights Jacob's isolation in the present
Themes & Symbols
Themes
- Cruelty vs. Compassion: August's brutality contrasts with Jacob's protectiveness and the tenderness between Jacob and Marlena.
- Power, Control, and Abuse: August's abuse escalates, while Uncle Al uses blackmail to maintain control.
- Love, Passion, and Forbidden Romance: Jacob and Marlena's relationship deepens, becoming an act of rebellion and a search for sanctuary.
- Aging, Dignity, and Mortality: Jacob's present-day fear of losing his mind and his family's abandonment highlight the indignities of old age.
Symbols
- Rosie's Sequined Headpiece: Symbolizes Marlena's hope and dedication; its destruction represents the loss of happiness.
- The Diamond Necklace: Represents the illusion of August's love; his attempt to tear it off signifies the end of that illusion.
- The Hotel Room: A sanctuary for Jacob and Marlena, free from the circus's control, allowing their relationship to be consummated.
Significance
This section marks a major turning point. Tensions explode, altering relationships irrevocably. The discovery of Rosie's Polish understanding offers hope, but leads to a confrontation that shatters the fragile peace. Marlena's departure, Jacob's blackmail, and the consummation of their romance propel the narrative forward. The present-day narrative deepens the story's emotional weight, mirroring the entrapment and desperation of Jacob's younger self.
Analysis
Sara Gruen uses the alternating timeline to create thematic resonance. Jacob's present-day fears echo the characters' entrapment in 1931. Both narratives explore the struggle for dignity. August's paranoid schizophrenia adds complexity, explaining his unpredictable behavior without excusing it. Jacob and Marlena's love is depicted as a desperate act of finding humanity, a quiet rebellion in a world defined by brutality, setting the stage for tragic events.
"it's all downhill from here."
Jacob's lament encapsulates his fear of losing his mental faculties and the indignities of aging. This quote highlights the theme of Aging, Dignity, and Mortality, emphasizing his terror of losing his identity and becoming a burden on others. It underscores the novel's exploration of the challenges and fears associated with growing old.
"I made my bed, and now I have to lie in it."
Marlena's statement reflects her sense of obligation and resignation to her marriage with August, despite her unhappiness. This quote reveals her initial reluctance to pursue a relationship with Jacob, as she feels bound by her commitment to August. It highlights the theme of Love, Passion, and Forbidden Romance and the obstacles that Jacob and Marlena must overcome to be together.