Chapter XI Summary

In chapter eleven, Jake sees Pittsburgh as a smoky industrial town. He sees men with coal and oil stained clothing in the black section of town. By an eating place, Jake sees a pretty girl and soon becomes friendly with her. At the pool hall, Jake sees the Haitian waiter, and there are men there writing and reading under religious pictures of Negroes. Jake tells the waiter that he is taking his new girlfriend to the show that evening. The waiter plans to go to sleep early, but knows that the railroad men's quarters are filthy. Jake learns that the waiter's name is Ray.

Jake returns to the railroad men's quarters after midnight and his fulfillment of his desires with his new girlfriend. Ray cannot sleep, and Jake and Ray decide to go to an all-night bar with another man there...