Tropic of Cancer

Content Warning: The source text contains depictions of antisemitism, anti-Black, anti-Chinese, and anti-Indian/anti-Hindu stereotypes and language. It also contains depictions of misogynistic language, domestic abuse, and alcohol abuse.

Henry is living at the Villa Borghese with his friend Boris. At this point, he has been living in Paris for two years, and although he has no money and his home is filthy, he is happy because he is finally an artist. His lover Tania is the reason he is writing this story. Tania is married to Sylvester, another of Henry’s friends. In a series of disconnected contemplations, he thinks about the penis size of various animals and lists the Jewish people he knows, concluding that he would convert to Judaism for Tania.

Henry describes his friends Van Norden and Moldorf, the former of whom he labels “cunt-struck” and the latter of whom is “word drunk” (4). He then describes Tania’s body in great detail, imagining what it would be like to have sex with her in front of Sylvester. He compares Tania to two other women, Irène and Llona, focusing on their genitals and sexual habits. He then describes Moldorf in greater detail, calling him “clown, juggler, contortionist, priest, lecher, mountebank […] Moldorf is God” (8).