The Caves of Steel

The chapter begins with Baley’s memory of meeting his wife, Jessie, at a party several years earlier. His initial attraction to her was due to her name: Jessie Navodny tells Lije that her full name is Jezebel. Lije, being short for Elijah, was drawn to her based on the biblical interaction between their namesakes; they were enemies in the Bible. Jessie believes her namesake is a wicked temptress, but Lije tells her she is mistaken. She looks up biblical history and discovers that Jezebel was a queen who had hundreds of prophets killed. This ruins her name’s connotations for her, as she considered it “intriguingly wicked.” She does not speak to Lije for a two days after, and Lije notes that it was the worst argument they ever had. Soon after this, Jessie becomes pregnant and decides to name their son Bentley because it’s not a biblical name. Lije agrees. Now, as Lije is about to bring Daneel into their home, he and Jessie have been married 18 years, and Bentley, whom they sometimes call Ben, is 16.

Daneel cuts Lije’s brooding short as they enter their apartment section. Lije explains that he will use the Personals, the communal shower and lavatory facility.