In Wednesday’s class we spoke of Ned Beaumont seeming as if he did not truly belong in “The Glass Key”. It is as if he is a floating entity, moving from place to place in an attempt to create something profitable from it all. Not just in monetary forms though. He of course took a trip to New York to take care of that. Ned initially became a private investigator to retrieve these winnings from Bernie, but he continues to hold on to his lawful status for the rest of the novel.

Ned Beaumont generally wanted answers! He played tricks on everyone throughout the novel. Imbedding himself in to individuals’ lives and reading their every move. I feel he was able to do these things, because he was a drifter. After leaving Paul the first time, he was able to have a short lived ordeal with Madvig’s arch nemesis, Shad O’Rory.

Picking up on this detail in class caused me to begin thinking about the fact that Ned continuously tried to leave town. New York was his destination and he just could not make it there. His floating among allies and enemies would not cease!

Turning over the book and reading the synopsis of the novel, I realized something incredibly interesting. Ned Beaumont is not even mentioned as being a key character in the novel. I can’t figure that one out, but it might play in with the whole “not really belong there” theory.