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Chapter 21: E.Z.
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
On her first day at school, Madeline receives a note from her teacher, Mrs. Mudford, requesting a meeting with Elizabeth. After starting her job as a lab technician at Hastings, Elizabeth seeks more details about the abiogenesis investor from Frask, only to discover that there is little to no information available. A few days after Elizabeth’s conversation with Frask in the bathroom, Frask reveals that her new boss is firing her because she refuses to lose weight. As an act of retaliation, Frask decides to leave Elizabeth all of Calvin's work, which was previously stored away. Frask and Elizabeth both know what they are doing is illegal, but neither cares.
The lack of detail surrounding the abiogenesis investor—which has been mentioned multiple times—builds intrigue, foreshadowing that the identity of the investor will be important to the development of the plot. Meanwhile, Frask’s dilemma is an example of how less-qualified men pushed women out of their jobs. Frask’s new boss demands that she gets skinnier because he believes her looks are her only important feature.
Themes
