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Chapter 1: November 1961
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Lessons in Chemistry, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Gender Inequality
Science vs. Religion
Overcoming Tragedy and Trauma
Family
Summary
Analysis
Before Elizabeth Zott became the host of Supper at Six, she was a research chemist. She got the job as the host of Supper at Six after a strange confrontation with Walter Pine, a producer at the local television studio. Elizabeth paid a visit to Walter’s office after discovering that his daughter Amanda was trading lunches with Madeline at school every day. Elizabeth puts a lot of time and effort into ensuring that her daughter has a nutritious and balanced lunch, and she says as much to Walter.
Elizabeth’s professional background as a chemist is significant as it places her in a male-dominated field. The transition from chemist to television cooking show host during an era where women were often not seen in scientific roles is a drastic shift and speaks to the gender biases of the time. What is still unclear is why someone like Elizabeth would take such a role.
Themes
Walter is taken aback when Elizabeth enters his office. He does not know why she came or what she wants. For a moment, he wonders if she is attempting to audition for him. Eventually, Elizabeth clarifies that she is a research chemist, and she has come to ensure that Amanda eats her own lunch from now on. Walter, however, is too focused on Elizabeth’s beauty to respond to her demands.
Walter’s reaction to Elizabeth's unanticipated visit highlights the limited expectations society held for women and their perceived roles. His focus on her appearance rather than her concern about the children's lunches reveals the objectification Elizabeth experiences due to her gender.
Themes
Because of Elizabeth’s concerns regarding nutrition, Walter offers her a cooking show on his network. Elizabeth accepts the job because it pays more than her research work, and she wants to ensure she can make ends meet for Madeline. Quickly, Supper at Six becomes one of the most popular shows in the country—even the president watches it. Journalists begin writing about Elizabeth, including one who nicknames her Luscious Lizzie, which quickly catches on with the public. Despite her success, Elizabeth feels ashamed of her job because she thinks she should aspire for more. On occasion, she lies in bed and thinks about a man named Calvin Evans, who she feels is responsible for the current trajectory of her life.
The success of "Supper at Six" suggests that Elizabeth has a significant impact on the cultural landscape. However, the nickname "Luscious Lizzie" implies that part of her popularity is due to objectification by men. The nickname suggests that Elizabeth’s beauty is her most important quality, while the public ignores her intellect. Elizabeth perceives the cooking show as a step down from her research work, which reflects how women's work is often undervalued, regardless of its success or influence.
Themes
