Study Guide

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party Part 2, Chapter 23

By M.T. Anderson

Part 2, Chapter 23

It's the first of April, and this means it's party time again, Shmoopsters—pox party time, to be exact.
People arrive in their fancy clothes, with trunks of stuff and loads of gossip; Mr. Gitney's at the front of the arrival line.
He cuts each guest on the arm and puts a strand of hair, laced with smallpox, into the cut.
He does the same to Octavian, while informing Octavian that the cure for smallpox came from Africa and that Constantinople also had smallpox parties.
After everyone's been inoculated, a red banner that says "God Have Mercy Upon Us" is unfurled. That's what they do for houses infected with smallpox.

Ask questions, get answers, and discuss with others.

Join today and never see them again.

Get started