Giovanni’s room is in a perpetual state of disarray; not only is it full of Giovanni’s belongings, but contains remnants of attempted renovations, tools, and long-rotten food. David compares the room to Giovanni’s mindset before they met: He did not want to live and so he punished himself with the dirty room. Giovanni thinks David can save his life, and for a while David enjoys “playing the housewife” (88) while Giovanni is at work. Soon, however, his feelings become deeply confused. David both desires and resents Giovanni’s love, and he feels like the room is absorbing him. David also dislikes Giovanni’s weaponization of David’s Americanness against him.

David gets his mail from the American Express Office, where American tourists confront him in their familiarity and growing alienation. One day, David receives two letters: one from his father and one from Hella. His father refuses to send David money and entreats him to come home, not wanting David to waste any more time in Europe. Before opening Hella’s letter, David accidentally stares at a passing sailor. The sailor looks at David with contempt, making David fear that his desire for men is now recognizable.