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Chapter 22
Themes
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
Easy and Mouse go to Junior’s house, where Easy intends to talk to him about the late-night phone call from a few days ago and get answers. At first, Junior denies Easy entry, but when he sees Mouse, he lets them both inside. Easy then confronts Junior with a cigarette butt he found on the floor at Richard McGee’s house, pointing out that it matches the same cheap brand that Junior exclusively smokes. Although Junior tries to deny his involvement, he ultimately confesses to killing Richard.
This moment is significant because it reveals a key piece of information that Easy has kept from both Junior and the reader: Junior killed Richard McGee, and Easy has known this since discovering one of Junior’s cigarette butts at McGee’s home. As the narrator, Easy withholds this detail to build suspense and showcase his impressive detective prowess, particularly his ability to retain crucial information until the most impactful moment.
Themes
The same night Easy saw Richard drunk outside of John’s, Richard offered Junior $100 to drive him home and give him information about Coretta that could help him locate Daphne. Junior, eager for the money, agreed despite not understanding Richard’s motives. Once at Richard’s house, Richard insisted Junior deliver a message to Frank Green before receiving payment. Feeling cheated, Junior grew angry. When Richard turned toward his bedroom, Junior assumed he was retrieving a gun, panicked, grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and stabbed him—but Richard was unarmed. Disgusted by Junior’s actions and refusal to fully take responsibility, Easy and Mouse leave.
The revelation that Junior helped the drunk McGee after Easy had refused to earlier in the story ties up loose ends by clarifying McGee’s true goal: finding Daphne and Frank Green. Junior’s murder of McGee demonstrates the impulsive violence that he is well-known for. Easy’s disgust with Junior’s refusal to accept responsibility—even though McGee was objectively a bad person—highlights his own moral code. While Easy operates in a society rife with corruption and crime, he maintains a personal standard that sets him apart.
Themes
