Jacob's Room

Each day, Jacob leaves his house at 9:30 am. After spending the day at work, he spends the rest of his time playing chess, watching sports, or visiting friends such as Richard Bonamy. On his hall table sits a stack of unopened letters from his mother, each filled with the latest news and gossip from Scarborough, each imploring Jacob to “come back, come back, come back” (89) to her. When Florinda visits Jacob, she examines a letter and brings it to his room. He greets her with a kiss and then closes the door. The narrator reflects on letters as “infinitely brave, forlorn, and lost” (91).

Later, Jacob leaves the bedroom dressed in a gown. While Florinda tidies her hair, he reads the letter from his mother. Letters, the narrator suggests, have a way of bringing people together. The many different ways in which a person can write a letter provide insight into the different aspects of their personality.

One day, Florinda passes Jacob. She is in the company of another man. This shocks Jacob, who returns immediately to his apartment. He seats himself at his table and reads the newspaper, which contains stories from all across the world.