Ambition Quotes in The Day of the Locust

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

On stage he was a complete failure and knew it. Yet he claimed to have once come very close to success. (6.7)

Sounds like a real charmer. Although he has long since retired from the clowning game, Harry is unable to forget about his past and stop wondering what his career could have been. Over time, this eats away at him.

Quote #2

After trying to get a job by inserting a small advertisement in Variety ("...'some producer should put Mr. Greener into a big revue…' The Times"), he had come to Hollywood. (6.15)

Of course, Harry conveniently leaves out the part that says this would in fact be a bad idea, but the guy tends to play fast and loose with the truth. After all, how valuable is truth if it doesn't help you get to where you're going? One might make an argument about "morality" or something, but morality isn't worth much in Hollywood.

Quote #3

"My father isn't really a peddler," she said, abruptly. "He's an actor. I'm an actress. My mother was also an actress, a dancer. The theatre is in our blood." (11.147)

Like father, like daughter. Faye conveniently leaves out a few facts: that her father was a clown, not a movie star, and that she's only been an extra in movies. Like her old man, however, Faye has a finely tuned ability to sell herself and throw circumstances and good taste to the wind. And it works like a charm.