This Side of Paradise

When Amory embraces Isabelle, his shirt stud marks her neck. He makes light of the situation, which upsets her. She goes to her room and returns to Amory with a wrap around her shoulders to cover the mark. The couple goes to a country club. On the way, Amory apologizes, but Isabelle is still upset, disliking when others laugh at her. Her persistence angers him, and he realizes he lacks affection for her. Later that evening, Amory says he’s leaving the next day, feeling as if their relationship has run its course. He catches the train the next morning and feels that Isabelle has spoiled the past year for him.

“The Superman Grows Careless”: Amory returns to Princeton in September to attend a tutoring program to compensate for his previous academic failures. He is also required to take an exam, and if he fails it, he can no longer participate in his clubs or keep his position at the Princetonian. He’ll also lose the social status he worked so hard to attain. Despite the consequences, Amory refuses to study and fails the exam.

“Aftermath”: Amory goes through the beginning of his junior year without purpose, immediately regretting that he didn’t take the exam more seriously.