117 pages • 3 hours read
Michael ChabonA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Part 1, Chapters 1-4
Part 2, Chapters 1-6
Part 2, Chapters 7-12
Part 3, Chapters 1-4
Part 3, Chapters 5-11
Part 3, Chapters 12-15
Part 4, Chapters 1-4
Part 4, Chapters 5-6
Part 4, Chapters 7-10
Part 4, Chapters 11-14
Part 4, Chapters 15-17
Part 5, Chapters 1-7
Part 6, Chapters 1-4
Part 6, Chapters 5-9
Part 6, Chapters 10-14
Part 6, Chapters 15-20
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Most of the Escapist’s villains operate on the battlefields of Europe and North Africa, but the Saboteur lives in Empire City. The Saboteur “is every bit the dark obverse of the Escapist, as skilled at worming his way into something as the Escapist is at fighting his way out” (328). As the Escapist’s power increases, so does the Saboteur’s. The Saboteur shares a canopy bedroom with his girlfriend, the Spy Queen, Renata von Woom. She is a founding member of his evil group, the United Snakes of America.
On a Saturday afternoon, the Saboteur wakes and gets ready for his menial job that serves as his cover. He removes his night-black uniform bearing his symbol, a crimson crowbar, and changes into a waiter’s outfit. He then goes to his laboratory to collect the dismantled parts of the Exploding Trident, which he has cleverly concealed in a pink cake box. He waves goodbye to Renata, who is lying on the bed underneath a portrait of the Führer. She tells him to “knock ‘em dead, big boy” (330).
The Saboteur takes the bus to Fifth Avenue and then another 20 blocks uptown: “Ordinarily he dislikes taking the bus, but he is late already, and if you are late, they take it out of your pay” (330).
By Michael Chabon