What happens in Chapter 55 of As I Lay Dying?
The chapter unfolds through the eyes of Skeet Macgowan, a drugstore clerk in Jefferson. During his lunch shift, his coworker Jody points out a young country woman outside who’s looking for a doctor. Skeet sneaks a glance through a crack in the prescription case, finds her attractive, and decides to meet her while pretending to be a doctor.
The woman reveals that she is dealing with an unwanted pregnancy — "I ain't had it. That's it" — and shows Skeet a ten-dollar bill tied in a handkerchief, which she received from the man involved. Skeet plays along, suggesting that he could assist her but that it would cost more than ten dollars and jeopardize his supposed "license." He also implies, without stating it outright, that he expects sexual favors in addition to or instead of money.
Meanwhile, Jody keeps an eye out for the store's owner, who isn’t expected back until one o'clock. As time ticks away, Skeet pours a mysterious liquid that smells like turpentine into a glass and hands it to her as a first "treatment," telling her to come back at ten that night for "the rest of it and perform the operation."
Later that evening, Skeet closes the store early, sends the owner away, prepares six capsules filled with talcum powder, and cleans out the cellar. At ten o'clock, the woman arrives punctually. Skeet notices a boy in overalls sitting on the curb outside. He hands the woman the box of capsules and directs her down to the cellar.
Analysis
The chapter is narrated entirely from Skeet Macgowan's first-person perspective, using a light-hearted, self-satisfied tone that exposes his exploitation even as he tries to present it as clever. The informal style — short sentences, casual contractions, and locker-room humor — creates a striking contrast between the seriousness of the woman’s situation and Skeet’s joking. This contrast drives the chapter's irony.
Skeet never names the woman and largely depicts her through her repeated phrase: "I got the money." This mantra underscores her powerlessness. She enters with her only asset, but Skeet gradually takes that away as he alters the deal to benefit himself. Her silence and the recurring line "She looks at me" reflect both her awareness and her helplessness, all seen through Skeet's self-serving lens.
Time adds structural tension. Each timestamp tightens the timeline for Skeet's plan and builds suspense. The cellar is noted for having only one way out — back up the inside stairs — and it’s where the chapter concludes, with Skeet directing the woman down into it, hinting at danger through its confining structure.
The treatments Skeet offers — a liquid that smells like turpentine and talcum powder capsules — mock medical care and highlight how desperate the woman is to accept whatever is given. His casual remark about a sprained ear, made while he manipulates her, emphasizes how routine this predation feels to him.
Key quotes from Chapter 55
“The trouble about the cellar is, it ain’t but one way out and that’s back up the inside stairs.”
Skeet reflects to himself while the clock ticks toward one o'clock, noting the cellar's single exit.
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