SnopessInCB

In this story Flem is in the middle of his journey from cabin to mansion, having become the superintendent of Jefferson's power plant by essentially pimping out his (unnamed) wife to the town mayor. The narrative allows readers to see firsthand what it calls "Flem Snopes's methods" as he schemes to manipulate the plant's two black employees into helping him embezzle city property (151). The "monument of brass" that results from his scheme can be contrasted, ironically, with the marble statues to the culture's genuine heroes (149). Flem's methods literally leave a "bad" taste in the mouths of the residents (168), but readers may find it hard in the end to understand what profit Flem himself makes from all his machinations.