Previous
Chapter 10
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Devil in a Blue Dress, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Race and Identity
Power and Corruption
Violence, Justice, and Morality
The American Dream
Summary
Analysis
On the way home from the police station, a black Cadillac stops Easy, and the driver tells him to get inside. The man claims his boss can explain why the police detained Easy. Though skeptical, Easy enters the car. Inside, he is struck by a sour, oppressive stench. He then notices the passenger: Matthew Teran, a former mayoral candidate with considerable influence. Teran asks about Daphne, but Easy maintains that he doesn’t know where she is. Teran also asks questions about Howard Green, Coretta, and Dupree. During the exchange, a young Mexican boy appears from behind a seat. Teran claims the child is “his boy,” but Easy is disturbed to see that the boy is unkempt, with soiled underwear and an unwashed appearance.
The bizarre introduction of Matthew Teran deepens the story’s atmosphere of corruption and moral decay. His political power seemingly masks seedy and unsettling behavior, particularly his treatment of the unnamed young Mexican boy, whom Teran presumably abuses or grossly exploits. Easy’s discomfort during this interaction highlights his growing awareness of the dangerous forces at play in the mystery of Daphne Monet’s disappearance.
Active
Themes
Teran drops Easy off at John’s speakeasy, urging him to reach out if he learns anything about Daphne and offering him money, which Easy declines. Inside, Hattie greets Easy with shocking news: Coretta has been murdered, beaten so brutally that she was nearly unrecognizable—just like Howard Green. Stunned, Easy asks Odell to drive him home. In the car, Odell voices his fears, advising Easy to leave Los Angeles and start fresh somewhere far away. His suggestion unsettles Easy, who knows he can’t abandon his home and refuses to run. Odell recommends that Easy seek guidance from the church, but Easy doubts that faith will be much help in his current situation.
Active
Themes
