Foe

Susan is back in London. She knocks at a door, and Foe answers, welcoming Susan and Friday into his small apartment. He assures Susan that he is progressing with her story, though admits that he is writing “slowly” (114). Mrs. Thrush directed Susan and Friday to Foe’s new lodgings when they returned from Bristol. Foe has a number of questions about Susan’s time in Brazil, which Susan promises to answer as best as she can. Foe wonders whether Friday was ever sexually interested in Susan; she says no, as he has become like a shadow to her. Foe wants to know about Susan’s daughter, believing that a reunion between Susan and her daughter would be the perfect way to end the book. He wants to set this story in the context of “a larger story” (117). Susan does not share his opinion, as she has come to believe that the real story is the removal of Friday’s tongue. She wants to show Foe that this subject is suitable for a story. She frames the removal of the tongue as an analogy for a brutal castration; she has seen Friday naked, but she cannot imagine writing about such an “atrocious mutilation” in a book (119), so they must use metaphor.

Susan accuses Foe of being one of the “notorious libertines” (120). Part of his seduction is reframing her story, and she will not allow this. Susan is of the belief that only a small place with few people can be properly portrayed in fiction. Foe does not agree. He tells a story about a thief who confessed to her priest the night before she was to be hanged. She began confessing to many crimes, so many that the priest who listened to her confession eventually told her to stop. Foe tells another story in which a similarly condemned woman searched for a family to adopt her daughter. When one of the jailers’ wives agreed to adopt the child, the woman willingly went to her execution. Foe shares these stories as a way to show Susan that “there are more ways than one of living eternally” through stories (125).

Susan admits that she has lost hope that her story will make her wealthy. She asks Foe whether he knows “the story of the Muse” (126), the figure from Greek mythology who inspired poets. At this time, she has spent two days without food. She is dressed in rags. Even if she can find work, she cannot do so without sharing her story with the world. Fate is what brought her together with Foe, and he must write the story. The conversation is interrupted by Jack, an errand boy, who is sent by Foe to fetch food for three people. He is a “notable pick-pocket” without any parents (128), Foe explains. Looking at Friday, Foe wonders whether Friday might be happier with his people. When Jack brings the food, he also says that visitors have arrived to see Foe. Susan, Friday, and Foe eat the food.

After they finish their food, Foe leaves to fetch the visitors. A woman and a girl enter the room; Susan recognizes the girl as little Susan Barton, whom she left behind in Epping Forest. Susan does not recognize the woman, though the little girl introduces her as Amy, her nurse when she was young. Again, Susan denies any knowledge of the girl or Amy. As Susan feels dizzy, Foe leads her to a chair. Everyone studies Susan, who becomes increasingly vehement that she does not know the girl. This is not her child, she insists. Foe is trying to force a happy ending to her story, but she has begun to doubt herself. She does not know who to trust, including herself. Foe does not answer her questions. Instead, he kisses Susan. After she struggles away from his kiss, Foe convinces her not to leave. Instead, he gives Jack some money and sends the boy away. Amy also makes her excuses, citing the late hour, and takes the young girl with her. Susan would also like to leave, but Foe invites her to “spend the night” (137). He says that Friday can sleep in the corner on a mat behind a curtain. As Friday lays down, Susan goes to the bed with Foe. She does not know whether having sex with him will affect her story.

Susan and Foe talk as they lay beside each other. Foe wants to know about Susan’s dreams. When they kiss, he bites her lip. As Susan protests, he apologizes and says that this is his “manner of preying on the living” (139). When they have sex, Susan’s mind drifts back to the island. While on top of Foe, she thinks of herself as a classical muse, visiting a poet. After sex, Foe lays quietly. When he has recovered enough strength, he whispers quietly about sea monsters. He imagines a monster attacking Friday, who paddles his log around the island. He may have been visiting the sunken ship, Foe imagines, casting his petals onto the water to commemorate the deaths of the enslaved people who drowned aboard the ship. The memory of the enslaved people, Foe imagines, is like a monster rising from the deep that must be placated. As a writer, he must dive into similar depths to tell Friday’s story. He must “open Friday’s mouth and hear what it holds” (142). There could be silence inside, he says, or a great roar. Together, Susan and Foe come to an agreement: They want to understand and write Friday’s story. Foe falls asleep. Susan lies awake, preoccupied with her thoughts. Eventually, she falls asleep.

When Susan wakes, Foe is writing at his desk. As Susan and Friday prepare to leave, Foe tells them to stop. He asks Susan to teach Friday to write, giving her “a child’s slate and a pencil” so that she can be his teacher (145). With Foe’s money, Susan takes Friday to find something to eat. They eat together in a churchyard, where Susan makes her first attempts to teach Friday. She is not successful. They return together to Foe’s apartment, where Foe hears Susan’s complaints and tells her to persevere, as “Friday may yet surprise [them]” (147). During their conversation, Friday takes up the pencil. He covers the slate in drawings of feet, each fitted with an open eye. Friday then wipes his work from the slate. This angers Susan, who says that she has been carrying Friday with her like a burden. She wants to be free to live her own life. She argues with Foe about freedom, particularly as it pertains to Friday. Rather than argue, Foe tells Susan to “go for a stroll” (150). He will stay with Friday.

Susan walks through the streets of London. Her thoughts turn to Foe and their various interactions. Eventually, she returns to the apartment. There, Friday is sitting at the writing desk. He has found his robes and wig, which he wears while holding the pencil in his hand. Susan approaches him, but Foe tells her to wait. Friday, he says, is getting to know the writing tools. This is an important part of learning how to write, so they sit and watch him together from the end of the bed. When Susan examines Friday’s efforts, she discovers that he has tried to write out the letter “o” over and over again. Foe promises that Friday will learn another letter tomorrow with Susan’s help.