51 pages • 1 hour read
James KelmanHow Late It Was, How Late
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1994A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Section 3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Pages 296-386 Summary
Sammy is once again in prison, though this time the authorities are interrogating him about his activities. The reader finds out that aside from drinking with his friends, Sammy might have been involved in illegal political activities. However, it is unclear whether Sammy is involved in these activities or whether the blame falls on his friends.
The policemen also interrogate Sammy regarding Helen, his missing girlfriend. They suggest that there may be allegations about Sammy being the cause of her disappearance. However, Sammy’s internal dialogue indicates that he feels only affection toward her and that he is truly worried about her disappearance. The narrative implies that the policemen are threatening Sammy with an unfounded claim regarding Helen’s disappearance.
The grueling interrogation continues, and Sammy is handcuffed for a long time. When he is released into his cell, he experiences great pain and discomfort. He is unable to sleep, and his thoughts become more erratic. He is sharing his cell with another man, Davie, who is also being interrogated. Sammy is suspicious of the man and thinks that he might be a police informant.
The policemen use abusive language toward Sammy, deriding his loss of vision. As the policemen ask him about his drinking the night before he landed in prison at the beginning of the novel, Sammy responds that he can only remember small fragments of what happened. He mentions several bars where he was drinking, along with different friends. The policemen focus on one of the friends, Charlie Barr. The police seem to believe that Charlie is a violent political dissident. The narrative indicates that Charlie is a Scottish nationalist, although the political dynamics between the English and Scottish sides are not discussed in the novel. Sammy does not appear to take sides in the political conflict. He does, however, express disdain for policemen, institutions, and authorities in general.
Part of Sammy’s interrogation concerns his claim at the DSS. The policemen are angered by Sammy’s claim that he experienced sight loss because of the beating he received at the hands of the police. They claim that the fault was Sammy’s and that he is the one who got into a fight with their colleagues. The policemen release him in front of the doctor’s office before his appointment on Monday morning. They tell him that they will wait for him and pick him up after his appointment.
Pages 387-445 Summary
Ally, a defense lawyer, approaches Sammy as he is waiting for the doctor. He offers to represent Sammy and gives him advice about approaching the doctor. He tells Sammy that the doctor may be problematic and may not provide Sammy with the help that he seeks. Ally thinks that the doctor will try to argue that Sammy is experiencing anxiety rather than sight loss. Sammy dismisses Ally and his advice, saying that he does not need a representative. Sammy’s primary concern during this visit is to have his vision loss acknowledged by the doctor. He wants to register with social services and receive compensation in the future. He discusses the possibility of obtaining a guide dog or a white cane from a charity to assist him with his sight loss.
However, the doctor appears skeptical of Sammy’s disability, using the term “alleged dysfunction” and making it clear that he doesn’t believe that Sammy is truly experiencing sight loss. This disbelief leads to a heated exchange between Sammy and the doctor, resulting in Sammy angrily crumpling up his prescription and throwing it at the doctor. Ally intervenes on behalf of Sammy and obtains him a referral to a charity. The charity is supposed to help Sammy get a cane and a guide dog.
Once out of the doctor’s office, Ally tries to speak with Sammy, but the latter continues being dismissive. Sammy searches for the police, but Ally tells him that they have left. Ally insists on representing Sammy in court to obtain social benefits for his vision loss. Sammy suspects Ally of being a police informant. Ally speaks a lot about how he can help Sammy and what the next steps are in his case. Ally seems to be an experienced representative of similar working-class individuals.
While Sammy waits for the bus, Ally asks him for the truth regarding his sight loss and the cause of it. Since the disability is not visible on Sammy’s body, Ally argues that it is more difficult to uphold it in court because nobody other than Sammy can verify his sight loss. Sammy reveals to Ally that he had an altercation with the police that resulted in his sight loss. Ally insists on the importance of consistency in Sammy’s case and the need for Sammy to register with a charity for support. Despite initial reluctance, Sammy agrees to let Ally represent him, and they shake hands to finalize their arrangement. Ally advises Sammy to visit the charity the next morning.
Pages 446-474 Summary
As soon as Ally leaves, Sammy reveals that he does not want Ally to represent him. He crumples up the prescription and referral that Ally obtained for him from the doctor. Sammy believes that he is the only one who can get himself out of trouble and mistrusts anyone he associates with the authorities. However, he does not throw away the prescription and referral.
Sammy becomes aware of the passing time and the pressure that he’s under. His thoughts shift to his need for money and his mistrust of people. He remembers a past incident involving a boulder falling on him. He considers the idea of going to Glasgow Airport to be a stowaway on a flight to Texas. Sammy expresses uncertainty about his current location and reminisces about people he used to know, including a drinking buddy named the Leg. He contemplates reconnecting with old friends or starting anew somewhere quiet and unfamiliar, like the seaside. Sammy also thinks about selling the dress shirts that he previously bought for some up-front cash.
Sammy reflects on his relationship with Helen, his desire for change, and his frustrations with the people around him. Sammy’s thoughts are a mix of resentment, hope, and determination to escape his current circumstances. Later, he navigates familiar streets, trying to avoid someone who appears to be following him. As the narrative continues, Sammy becomes more paranoid. He believes that police agents are going to come back at any time. He has a near mental health crisis as he cannot figure out where he is and appears to be missing his stick. His emotional upheaval is made worse by the pouring rain, which makes it even harder for Sammy to orient himself. His senses are heightened, and he wants to cry, although he does not allow himself to do so. Eventually, he reaches a familiar place and regains his sense of direction. Sammy is determined to leave his old life behind and start anew, facing the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead.
Section 3 Analysis
In this section, Sammy’s profound distrust of the authorities, particularly the police, becomes clear, even as Sammy depends on the authorities fully. The section begins with Sammy once again in police custody, facing a grueling interrogation. The authorities suggest that Sammy and some of his friends may have been involved in illegal political activities. However, it remains unclear whether Sammy himself was directly involved or if only some of his acquaintances were. Sammy is also suspicious of some of his friends, thinking that some may be informants of the police. The authorities’ insinuations regarding Sammy’s possible connection to illegal activities highlight the blurred lines of guilt by association, further contributing to Sammy’s distrust of the authorities. Finally, Kelman shows that distrust, a significant emotion in Sammy’s life, can be directed toward those around Sammy, such as his friends. Kelman immerses the reader in Sammy’s confusion by making his involvement and his friends’ roles unclear.
The police’s references to Helen during Sammy’s interrogation imply that the police are employing unfounded claims as part of their corrupt tactics. Furthermore, Sammy is repeatedly subjected to abusive language and derision about his vision loss by police officers. They also confront him about his claim at the DSS regarding the cause of his sight loss. The police vehemently deny responsibility and accuse Sammy of provoking the fight with their colleagues. This interrogation scene highlights the brutality and corruption within the police force, further eroding Sammy’s trust in the authorities.
The theme of Bureaucratic Challenges for Marginalized People reaches a climax with Sammy’s visit to the doctor. The doctor’s skepticism and manipulation of Sammy’s anxiety as a way to show that Sammy’s sight loss is not provoked by the police mirror the police’s treatment of Sammy. Sammy’s anger culminates in him crumpling up the prescription and throwing it at the doctor. This act reflects his defiance and frustration with the medical establishment’s failure to acknowledge the reality of his disability. Sammy’s anger is not solely directed at the doctor but also at the broader system that consistently dismisses and disbelieves him. The narrative also implies that the authorities are acting together, while Sammy is alone. Instead of the institutions playing a protective role for a vulnerable person, they turn against him. Sammy’s only response to this situation is anger and resilience. On the one hand, he faces impossible hurdles and unjust cruelty. On the other hand, he feels that he is the only one responsible for his situation, which gives him a sense of control. His resolution to leave Glasgow for England is the result of his experience with the authorities in Scotland.
Ally’s intervention breaks the monotony of Sammy’s dynamic with the authorities. Ally offers legal representation and advice to Sammy, recognizing the challenges that he faces in proving his disability and obtaining benefits. Ally is the intermediary between the institutions with which Sammy has such a troubled relationship and Sammy’s world. Sammy initially dismisses Ally’s assistance, reflecting his reluctance to rely on others, particularly those associated with the authorities. The fact that Ally speaks the same dialect as Sammy, though without the incessant cursing, shows that there is some compatibility between the two characters.
As Sammy grows increasingly aware of his vulnerability and the complexity of his situation, he eventually agrees to let Ally represent him. This decision underscores Sammy’s need for assistance within a system that continually discredits him and his disability. It also highlights the precarious nature of Sammy’s position and his realization that he cannot navigate the legal and bureaucratic challenges on his own. However, despite initially accepting Ally’s help, Sammy quickly reverts to his defiant and mistrustful nature. He crumples the prescription and referral obtained by Ally, symbolizing his resistance to being reliant on others and his continued distrust of authority figures. At the same time, he does not completely throw away the papers, foreshadowing the possibility of the relationship developing further.
Throughout this section, Sammy’s character develops as his paranoia and mistrust intensify, making it difficult for him to accept help or cooperate with others. He becomes increasingly erratic in his thoughts and actions, reflecting the mounting pressure and uncertainty that he faces. Sammy finds solace in thinking about escaping Glasgow for the seaside. He resents his current situation and is determined to break free from his surroundings.
Kelman uses stream-of-consciousness narrative style in this section to provide readers with a vivid sensory experience. As Sammy navigates the cacophony of an urban environment after experiencing sight loss, his consciousness is attuned to the sounds, smells, and tactile sensations that define his reality. Kelman’s narrative immerses readers in these sensory details, whether it’s the voices of passersby, the hum of city life, or the sensation of rain on Sammy’s skin. This sensory-rich approach underscores the challenges and experiences of individuals with disabilities.
