The Great Man Votes

We are introduced to Gregory Vance, a former Harvard professor who has become an outcast alcoholic. Despite his flaw, he cares for his children Joan and Donald, and tries to educate them with Latin and Shakespeare. He hints that his fall from respectability began with the death of their mother.

Vance hitches a ride with the local milkman who also delivers alcohol to him after his night shift as a watchman. The arrangement highlights his precarious dependence and the social circles he navigates. This routine sets the tone for his marginal existence in town.

Despite his alcoholism, Vance remains devoted to his children, teaching them classics, Latin, and Shakespeare. The children in turn look after him and guard his reputation in the town. Their home life anchors the story’s moral center.

An altercation between Vance's children and bullies led by Iron Hat McCarthy's son erupts in the streets. The incident exposes the town's power dynamics and foreshadows political maneuvering to come. The children's resilience earns Vance a street-level stake in city affairs.

The children's teacher, Agnes Billow, visits and the two adults grow friendly, especially as she recognizes Vance’s value as a writer she once admired. Their connection hints at a potential partnership in Vance’s redemption arc. She begins to see the man behind the outcast.

Vance reveals that his fall from respectability began with the death of the children's mother. The loss solidifies his isolation and motivates his attempts to regain dignity. This backstory deepens the emotional stakes for his children and for Agnes.

With the mayoral election approaching, Iron Hat learns that every vote is locked in place except for one crucial ward in which Vance’s stance could tip the balance. The city’s political machine depends on a single swing vote. This turn makes Vance a potential kingmaker.

Vance’s wealthy in-laws threaten to take custody of Joan and Donald, raising the personal stakes of the political game. The threat adds urgency to his need to straighten out his life and secure his children’s future. The family’s material comfort clashes with moral considerations.

To win his vote, Iron Hat offers Vance a low-level job in the city government. The offer is framed as a chance to be part of the system, but it also seems like a bribe to align with the machine. Vance weighs the price of political complicity against personal redemption.

Joan and Donald push the deal further by insisting that any job offer be put in writing. Their demand shifts the bargaining power and gives Vance leverage to demand clear terms. The moment signals a turn toward accountability in the political bargain.

Vance seizes the chance to expose the corruption of the mayor and Iron Hat. He refuses to participate in dirty politics and uses the moment to publicly challenge the machine. The revelation reshapes public opinion and his own reputation.

With the machine’s power unseated, Vance becomes socially respectable again and begins a new life. The narrative implies a path of personal reform, possibly shared with Miss Billow as a partner in this fresh chapter. The town sees him as a redeemed figure.