69 pages 2-hour read

Post Office

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1971

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Part 5Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5, Chapter 1 Summary

Hank receives a letter of warning from the Post Office Department over a DUI charge dated March 12, 1969, evidence of his failure to conduct himself in the manner required by the Postal Service. The letter warns that they’ll take disciplinary actions for a repeat offence, but it invites Hank to submit a written explanation.

Part 5, Chapter 2 Summary

Hank receives an official notice from the Post Office Department threatening disciplinary action against him for being absent without leave on May 13, 14, and 15, 1969. The proposed action could include a three-day suspension without pay, and his prior warning from April 1, 1969, for similar absences will be considered. He has 10 calendar days to respond in writing or in person, and he may be accompanied by a representative or submit affidavits. The Postmaster will review all responses before issuing a written decision, which will explain the reasons if the action is upheld.

Part 5, Chapter 3 Summary

Hank receives a formal notice from the Post Office Department confirming that his suspension for three days without pay has been upheld due to his absences. The suspension will take place from November 17 to November 19, 1969. The notice explains his right to appeal either to the Post Office Department or the US Civil Service Commission and includes detailed instructions on deadlines, procedures, and representation. If he appeals to the Department within 10 days, the suspension will be delayed until the appeal is decided. The notice also provides contact information for guidance on the appeals process.

Part 5, Chapter 4 Summary

Hank is formally notified by the Post Office Department that removal from the Postal Service, or another severe disciplinary action, is being considered due to repeated unauthorized absences. The letter lists specific dates and hours of absence across September, October, and November 1969. It also references his prior record, including the warning in April and his three-day suspension in November. He has the right to respond within 10 days, either in writing or in person, and has the option of representation and supporting affidavits. The notice emphasizes that all evidence, including his reply, will be reviewed before a final written decision is made.

Part 5 Analysis

The formal, bureaucratic tone of the novel’s shortest section, Part 5, starkly contrasts with the rest of Post Office. This contrast is so abrupt that it has a substantial impact. Each chapter is a written reprimand and/or threat of disciplinary action for Hank’s erratic attendance and conduct at work, likely copied word-for-word from real disciplinary warnings Bukowski received from the Postal Service during this period in his life. The letters cleverly demonstrate both the passage of time during this period and the impact of Fay and Marina’s absence on Hank. The sterile, repetitive language reflects the system’s impersonal control, reducing Hank’s chaotic humanity to a series of infractions, dates, and procedural rights. Bukowski’s decision to present these official communications without commentary emphasizes how completely the institution has consumed Hank’s identity. His trademark sparks of rebellion and lust for freedom are reduced to silence and paperwork. The absence of Fay and Marina further deepens the sense of isolation: Stripped of family, pleasure, and even a narrative voice, Hank becomes an object within the machine he once mocked. Bukowski’s literary choice in this section to focus entirely on the purposely sterile, faceless system rather than on Hank’s response further heightens the thematic impact of The Futility of Formally Resisting Authority.

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