# Alcohol and Escapism in Short Fiction

> Theme guide for Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

Drinking is a recurring motif, used both as a social lubricant and as a means of escaping emotional pain, with characters often turning to alcohol to cope with disappointment or boredom.

## Where it surfaces

- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v): Elliott's singing and poker playing serve as forms of escapism from the pressures of baseball and his financial struggles, highlighting a theme of seeking distraction and relief.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vii): Though not directly about alcohol, Elliott's erratic behavior and emotional outbursts reflect a desire to escape his situation.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/viii): The narrator's sleep disruption and reflection suggest an attempt to escape guilt and sorrow.
- [Phil and His 4d](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/phil-and-his-4d): The car serves as a means of escape from daily life, but the constant problems turn it into a source of stress rather than relaxation.
- [Tour No. 2](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/tour-no-2): Larry uses drinking and gambling to cope with boredom and social discomfort on the ship.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i): Larry drinks wine and gambles to escape the boredom of the trip and the tensions with his wife.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii): The card game serves as a form of escapism from the routine of baseball, with Ike's alibis representing a desire to avoid direct confrontation.
- [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vi): Ike's final line about having a drink for a cold hints at using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i): Billy's highball consumption and his entertaining behavior are central to the scene, suggesting alcohol as a social lubricant and escape.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii): Billy is 'on the wagon,' having given up drinking, and mentions his struggle with quiet and temptation.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v): Billy's attempt to stay sober is undermined by Tommy, leading to a bet and subsequent drunkenness.
- [The Last Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-last-night): The chapter explores alcohol as a means of escape from reality, with Jay Arnold's heavy drinking and the final binge before he decides to quit.
- [V: Katie Wins a Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v-katie-wins-a-home): The dinner party scene where Ralston drinks heavily, leading to revelations and mishaps.
- [Red Riding Hood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/red-riding-hood): The story revolves around the grandmother's need for gin as a morning remedy, highlighting alcohol's role in daily life.
- [What of It?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/what-of-it): The train's lack of a buffet car due to Prohibition highlights the era's alcohol restrictions, and the washroom serves as a retreat for smoking and thinking.
- [Haircut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/haircut): Jim Kendall's drinking is a central element of his character, leading to his cruelty and eventual downfall.
- [Reunion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/reunion): Stu's heavy drinking, beginning with highballs at lunch and continuing through the evening, serves as a means of coping with the boredom and frustration of hosting his provincial in-laws.
- [I Can’t Breathe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i-can-t-breathe): Frank's drinking and the use of cocktails as a social lubricant reflect the escapist tendencies of the era, and Ella's own romantic fantasies serve as a form of escape.
- [V: How Spanish War Ended](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v-how-spanish-war-ended): The conversation with Professor Snoot humorously touches on the ineffectiveness of Prohibition and the continued prevalence of drinking.
- [XVIII: Halloween in Polyandry Hospital](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xviii-halloween-in-polyandry-hospital): Dr. Gasp's high temperature is attributed to drinking 'heavenly,' hinting at alcohol use as an escape.
- [Sun Cured](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/sun-cured): Fretts's entire vacation is centered around drinking, from the initial gin bottles to the constant flow of cocktails, using alcohol as a means to escape his stressful work life.
- [The Spinning Wheel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-spinning-wheel): The casino setting and the characters' pursuit of gambling and romance serve as forms of escapism from their mundane lives, though ultimately leading to disappointment.
- [Man Not Overboard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/man-not-overboard): Brainard's heavy drinking is both a means to sustain his suicidal resolve and a way to escape his emotional pain, while Lemp's drinking leads to a cathartic confession.
- [There Are Smiles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/there-are-smiles): Ben's initial desire to 'sleep two weeks' and his feeling of being unable to feel as bad as he thinks he does suggest a form of emotional escapism, though not directly tied to alcohol.
- [Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/dinner): Harry's desire for a highball serves as an escape from the tedious and nonsensical conversation. His request for a drink is a reaction to the social discomfort and absurdity of the evening.
- [Ex Parte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ex-parte): The narrator drinks rye whiskey with Harry Cross as a way to cope with his marital problems.
- [Pity Is Akin—](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/pity-is-akin): The chapter is steeped in drinking, from the Spaldings' rye to Marian's 'cough medicine,' highlighting alcohol as a means of escape and social lubricant.
- [It's Got to Be Funny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/it-s-got-to-be-funny): Booth takes a drink as he contemplates his creative block, using alcohol as a means of escape.
- [Wasted Sympathy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/wasted-sympathy): Booth's drinking, especially after realizing the woman is married, serves as an escape from his creative frustration and emotional disappointment.
- [Detected!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/detected): The emptied bottle of 'pretty good stuff' highlights the presence of alcohol as a central element in the scene, tied to the mystery and the character's nighttime routine.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/themes/alcohol_and_escapism
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/themes