Poetry · Chapter
The Tables Turned explained
A man confronts a streetcar driver who has run over a pedestrian, questioning why the driver is not laughing as he usually does when killing someone.
What happens
A man confronts a streetcar driver who has run over a pedestrian, questioning why the driver is not laughing as he usually does when killing someone. The driver explains that he would laugh if he had bisected the questioner, but the pain comes from realizing he has cut himself in two.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the speaker’s obsessive pursuit of the divine rose fragrance…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Hypocrisy and Corruption
The driver's usual joy in killing contrasts with his sudden solemnity when the victim is himself, revealing a hypocritical double standard.
- Deception and Self-Deception
The driver's explanation that he has cut himself in two suggests a self-deceptive split between his actions and his identity.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker who confronts the driver about his lack of laughter.
Key passages
“The driver replied: 'I would laugh till I cried If I had bisected you; But I'd like to explain, if I can for the pain, 'Tis myself that I've cut in two.'”
The driver says he would laugh if he had killed the questioner, but the pain is from realizing he has harmed himself.
The driver's response reveals a twisted self-awareness and the theme of self-deception.
