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Chapter 27
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 dreams that he’s back in the war, proud to be fighting for freedom, when Mouse appears, urging him to abandon what he calls a “white man’s war” that offers no real benefit to Black people. Easy wakes to Primo dumping a bucket of water on his head, asking if he’s okay. Primo explains that Joppy and “a white man in a white suit” came by Easy’s room earlier but have since left. When Easy asks if Daphne was with them, Primo says he didn’t see her. Easy initially checks out Joppy’s house and bar, both of which are locked up and empty. He calls information on a whim to search for Albright’s address and gets lucky—Albright lives in Malibu Hills.
Easy’s dream represents his internal conflict between the idealized notion of heroism and the realities of systemic oppression. Mouse’s dismissal of WWII as a “white man’s war” highlights the disillusionment of Black soldiers who fought for freedoms abroad that were later denied to them at home. This dichotomy mirrors Easy’s broader struggle with loyalty—to his country, his community, and even himself. Despite the mounting dangers, he persists in tracking Albright, accepting the risks necessary to reclaim control of his own life and save Daphne’s.
Themes
