There Will Be No Miracles Here

Gerald was called “Osiris,” the god of the dead and lord of the underworld, while in one of Yale’s secret societies. Chapter 19, which is quite brief, highlights the existence of such societies and their dedication to tradition. More pertinently, it provides insight into Gerald’s relationship with Elijah, the younger student he had been like an older brother to.

Most importantly, Gerald discusses his handling of a rift between Daniel and Elijah in the Black Men’s Union. Gerald effectively mediates the dispute and, while managing to maintain both members, loses his relationship with Elijah.

Gerald recalls the biblical passages in which Jesus advises followers to remember Lot’s wife. The Old Testament story of Sodom and Gomorrah tells of the unnamed woman who was Lot’s wife. She had friends in Sodom, the city that God was to destroy. Lot’s wife looked back despite the warning that she should not and was turned to a pillar of salt for doing so.

Gerald wonders if this act of caring about her friends’ fate is the lesson Jesus meant to recall by mentioning the story (rather than her disobedience). In any event, Gerald is not so good a friend while a senior at Yale, and he regrets his failures toward his friends. In trying to be great, and encouraging others to be the same, he loses sight of being good.

Chapter 20 is the only chapter divided into sections. It begins with Gerald traveling to Europe, highlighting the history of the Berlin Wall and narrating his visit to a former East German prison in Berlin. Gerald discusses President Obama’s image abroad, noting that he is “as much a symbol as a man” (322).

Gerald recalls his experience working for Maria Owings Shriver (a member of the Kennedy family) in Washington, DC, after failing to get a position within Obama’s administration. Gerald writes that he “had never in my life seen a woman who looked as completely rich as Maria Shriver did” the day he met her (324). After describing Shriver’s efforts and a brief television appearance, however, Gerald returns to his experiences in Germany.

On his 13th day in Berlin, Gerald’s journals his experiences in a seminar-type course related to a human rights fellowship. He speaks out against the racism in a classmate’s comments supporting racial profiling in policing. Gerald reveals that this classmate later graduates from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and law school, and works at the World Trade Organization and United Nations.

Gerald highlights aspects of President Obama that make him acceptable as a Black man to many White Americans. He also discusses his ignorance of a commonality between Black Americans and non-White Europeans, observing that “there was hardly any place in the West”—not just the United States—“where the N***** […] does not have a hard time” (329).

While in Berlin, Gerald coaches football in the German education system. He is sad to learn that many students (even the prototypical Germans) have little chance of attending postsecondary school because of the rigid boundaries created by the German system of early testing to steer children toward educated professions or working in the trades.

Refocusing on Washington, Gerald addresses the slowness of change, which often frustrates those who see Obama’s election as the beginning of important changes. In Gerald’s case, the frustration drives him to consider joining the Republican Party.

In a highly descriptive, amusing section of the chapter, Gerald describes his experience exploring a Republican rally (involving a nascent Tea Party). The experience terrifies him, and his interest does not last long.

The final section introduces Gerald’s appreciation of poets like Walt Whitman and philosophers like Albert Camus and Ralph Waldo Emmerson. He reads an extensive biography of Theodore Roosevelt and ponders Roosevelt’s despair at the death of his wife and child. He compares Roosevelt’s quality of being “pure act” to the power medieval thinkers assigned to God. He then studies John F. Kennedy’s rise to the presidency, believing himself to be working tirelessly toward that goal as well.

Gerald is restless after spending five months sleeping on Granny’s couch in what is described as a failed homecoming. He connects with a contact from the law firm that he once worked at, Jeff Chapman, who arranges a position for him with Neiman Marcus and suggests that he run for elected office. Instead, Gerald focuses on his idea of convincing the mayor of Dallas to improve volunteerism.

Gerald shops his idea around with the power brokers, all men who belong to the Petroleum Club in Texas. They represent the most powerful oil men. After struggling to gain their interest, Gerald reconsiders Chapman’s suggestion. That leads him to consider Obama’s popularity among the people of his community. Gerald ponders how he might use the seemingly natural comparison between Obama and himself to obtain a seat in Congress.

Thus, Gerald launches an exploratory step toward a campaign and prepares to run for office in his home area of Texas. He gains support from a political strategist he met at Yale, referred to only as Franklin, and develops his campaign’s message.

Gerald’s jaundiced view of politics becomes clear when he describes his campaign as “full of shit,” as he says many politicians are (366). He maintains that the goal of politics at the present moment, set by Obama’s campaign and success, is to make the candidate appear to be just like everybody else.

Gerald then relays his communication with Micah, a friend from Yale, regarding how his campaign should address the issue of his homosexuality. They agree that he will need to be honest about it and own it.

To test his approach, Gerald calls upon his former teacher from South Oak Cliff, Brenda Cox. In talking with her, Gerald learns that his sister Tashia had gone to Cox when she learned that Gerald was gay by seeing material he left up on his computer.

Based on Franklin’s arrangements and recommendation, Gerald schedules a talk with Jonas Stein to finalize aspects of his campaign message. He tells Stein that he is gay; it is the first time he has ever told anyone.

Stein asks if Gerald is ready for the pushback he will experience. Later that night, Gerald writes Stein and includes the last stanza from “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold—words that Gerald describes as “hopeless” (365).

Then, Gerald breaks down into a long crying spell in which he feels near suicidal. He realizes that he has lost himself in trying to win the privileges and opportunities that became possible when he attended Yale. He cries for days and feels that he has died, in a sense.

Gerald closes the chapter by reflecting on Elijah, who had looked up to Gerald. He regrets that he could not share his recent insight with Elijah before his suicide. He recalls the words Elijah shared in Gerald’s dream: “We did a lot of things that we wouldn’t advise anybody we loved to do” (371).

Chapter 22 comprises all of Part 4 and is the book’s final chapter. A brief 11 pages, the chapter operates mainly as an epilogue.

Gerald drifts to New York for a time, then goes to Harvard Business School when he runs out of money. From there, he takes a long road trip with three friends, during which they offer their services for free to support the common good.

On a break in New York, Gerald falls apart again, feeling very alone. He moves to Austin and rents a house. Soon, he reconnects with River.

The book closes with Gerald dropping River off at the airport, then attempting to keep alive a plant they purchased together. The plant dies, but Gerald promises to try again.