Chapter 5 & 6

After graduating from Steering Academy, Garp and his mother move to Vienna where Garp starts his writing career.  Before starting his writing Garp wants to tour around, but is unaccompanied by his mother, who, like Garp, has decided to start a career in writing.  While Garp is touring he makes his first true friend in Vienna; a hooker named Charlotte.  Again this is ironic that the son of a woman who is opposed to having sex has befriended a woman who has sex for a living.  This is when Garp begins to write.  He starts writing a short story called The Pension Grillparzer, but does not finish.  He does not finish because he does not want to force the story.  Garp shows more contrast with his mother by this.  As Jenny writes her novel she will not stop writing, where as Garp takes a break when he feels his quality of writing is jeopardized.

            The theme of sex is brought upon again when he sleeps with Charlotte, her coworkers, and some Americans who are touring Europe.  Comically, Garp catches gonorrhea from one of the Americans rather than one of the hookers.

            Garp is dealt an emotional blow when he finds that Charlotte is terminally ill.  He visits her every day until her death.  She left him with one final gift: two free “sessions” with her coworkers.  After this upsetting time Garp once again begins to write, finishing The Pension Grillparzer.