34 pages 1 hour read

Colson Whitehead

Apex Hides the Hurt

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter 2Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 2, Pages 55-76 Summary

In the past, the protagonist became sought after for his expertise in naming products and soon was a leader in the company. He could come up with names almost instantly, often holding them back for a few days so that clients wouldn’t think he was “superhuman” (57). He dated, but not seriously. A magazine listed him as one of the city’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelors, which earned him more dates. Through all his success, he worried that some accident or misfortune would befall him. The Apex campaign was his greatest success, but it also led to his misfortune.

In the present, the protagonist reads the history of Winthrop, which overtly praises the Winthrop family. Sterling Winthrop made his fortune in barbed wire, a popular product because farmers and homesteaders in the late 19th century needed to fence off their land. The history—which the protagonist thinks reads more like a corporate brochure—refers to the town’s original inhabitants as “a loose band of colored settlers” (60), minimizing their claim to the area. The protagonist notes that Winthrop and the settlers made a law changing the town’s name, which means that the town had another name before Winthrop arrived.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 34 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,350+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools