Keep the Aspidistra Flying

Ravelston tells Gordon he will publish one of his poems, which is about a dying prostitute, in his journal Antichrist. Gordon jokes that his next poem will be about an aspidistra. The two head out. Based on a mutual understanding, Gordon does not let Ravelston buy him drinks or meals: “In this way the fiction was kept up that there was no serious difference in their incomes” (81). He tells Ravelston that there is “no life” in his poetry (83). Ravelston tries to assure Gordon that capitalism is “in its last phase” (84). Over drinks at a working-class bar, the two start arguing over socialism. Ravelston argues that Gordon should embrace socialism, but tor Gordon, socialism means “[r]ations served out in greaseproof paper at the communal kitchen” (88). Gordon believes the only alternatives to capitalism are “suicide and the Catholic Church” (88).

Gordon turns to telling Ravelston about being snubbed by the Dorings. He cites the incident as proof that people hate him because he is poor. Also, Gordon talks about how women spurn him because of his poverty. When they are about to part, Ravelston offers to lend Gordon some money. Gordon refuses, suggesting that going into Ravelston’s debt would ruin their friendship. Ravelston points out that this is a “bourgeois kind of thing to say” (96).

Later, Ravelston meets his wealthy girlfriend, Hermione Slater. She berates him for living like he is poor and hanging out with “beastly people” like Gordon (98). When Ravelston protests that he likes the working class, Hermione exclaims, “How disgusting. How absolutely disgusting” (98). On their way to a restaurant, they come across a beggar to whom Ravelston reacts with instinctive revulsion. He is about to offer the beggar some money, but Hermione stops him. Meanwhile, Gordon returns home to find a letter from the Dorings, which explains that they gave him the wrong date. However, Gordon believes it was deliberate and writes back accusingly.