Short Fiction · Chapter
The Camel's Back explained
Perry Parkhurst, after a quarrel with his fiancée Betty Medill, attends a costume party as a camel, only to discover Betty is there with another man.
What happens
Perry Parkhurst, after a quarrel with his fiancée Betty Medill, attends a costume party as a camel, only to discover Betty is there with another man. In a drunken haze, he ends up marrying her on a whim, leading to a chaotic and ironic resolution.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Val reaches his emotional and psychological peak in this passage as he confronts the painful gap between his r…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Love and Romantic Illusion
The impulsive marriage between Perry and Betty highlights the superficial and whimsical nature of romantic commitments in the era.
- Wealth and Decadence
The extravagant costume party and the characters' reckless behavior exemplify the decadence of the upper class.
Characters to notice
- Perry Parkhurst
The protagonist who, after a fight with Betty, attends a party dressed as a camel and impulsively marries her.
- Betty Medill
Perry's fiancée who attends the party with another man and ends up marrying Perry in a drunken ceremony.
Key passages
“Perry Parkhurst was a young man of twenty-three, with a good income, a good digestion, and a good disposition.”
Perry Parkhurst is a well-off, healthy, and easygoing young man.
Introduces Perry's comfortable life and character.
“The camel was a huge, lumbering, ungainly beast, and Perry felt a fool.”
Perry feels ridiculous in his cumbersome camel costume.
Highlights Perry's embarrassment and the absurdity of the situation.
“I'm going to marry you, Betty Medill, if it's the last thing I ever do.”
Perry declares his intention to marry Betty, despite their earlier quarrel.
Shows Perry's impulsive determination.
