# Chaim Menzies — Oil! character guide

> Chaim Menzies in Oil! by Upton Sinclair.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Chaim, Menzies, Old Chaim Menzies, old Chaim Menzies

**First appearance:** 0001-oil

## Who they are

An older member of the Menzies family.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii)

Chaim is mentioned as one of the young left-wingers who argue with Papa Menzies and later leave home.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii)

Intellectual among the strikers, busy with strike bulletin, persuaded by Bunny to let Rachel continue her education.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii)

Arrested during a police raid on the clothing workers' union headquarters.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix)

Arrested as a socialist agitator, found preaching to fellow prisoners in the jail tank.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x)

Arrested and facing deportation, later released through bribery.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix)

Mentioned as 'Ikey' Menzies, one of the defendants on trial.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii)

Elderly Socialist who believes in long-term organization and accuses Communists of being secret agents.

### [XX: The Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xx-the-dedication)

Attends the dinner party; criticizes Bunny's colony idea as a trap for the movement; smokes a cigar despite Bunny's anti-tobacco stance.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v)

Old socialist who smokes a cigar and humorously exempts himself from Bunny's anti-tobacco stance.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi)

Skeptical of the college plan, warns it will become a colony and raises the issue of sex.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/chaim_menzies
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters