Chapter 5, Words Made Flesh Summary and Analysis

Thomas claims that sometimes in life events occur in ways that make us think of God. If Chance brought them about, it would be frightening. Two years ago, Thomas's friend and mentor, the poet Henry Nugent, became depressed over the break-up of his second marriage. His first marriage had ended when he was still a young man. His wife was beautiful, talented and ambitious. The two married and had children. His wife had left with the children because she needed a break and came back with divorce papers.

Love and death are two of life's great themes, but the death of love is both strange and predictable. Nugent responded by becoming so depressed that he wanted to die. His fourth collection, Good Counsel, was published during this time. But he couldn't have cared less. He...