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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
Madeline seeks help from the librarian to locate a boys home in Iowa. Reverend Wakely, is in the library and overhears her. He assists in identifying the home, relying on the limited information she provides. During their search, they discuss the challenges of Wakely's job as a reverend. Wakely also shares his thoughts on the difference between something being secret and something being private. He claims that everyone, including himself, has secrets.
Madeline’s encounter with Reverend Wakely at the library is another one of the book’s significant and fateful coincidences. The distinction Wakely makes between secrets and privacy suggests that people can keep secrets to respect the sanctity of their inner life, not necessarily out of shame. As such, secrecy is not necessarily a bad thing.
Themes
Together, they pinpoint the All Saints Boys Home, but only find a phone number rather than an address. Wakely volunteers to call for Madeline and is shocked to learn that her deceased father is Calvin Evans, someone he once knew. Wakely had corresponded with Calvin after being impressed by his remarks at a Harvard conference. Despite their differences, they formed a mutual respect. However, their relationship ended abruptly after Calvin wrote a letter wishing for his father’s death. Wakely did not know how to respond to the letter, so he never did.
Wakely’s relationship with Calvin was full of mutual respect, even though they arrived at their conclusions through different frameworks. Calvin, in this case, represents the scientific worldview, while Wakely represents the religious worldview. However, the limits of their respect are tested after the death of Calvin’s father. Wakely knows he cannot console Calvin using religion and is thus at a loss for words.
Themes
Years later, after taking over his father's congregation, Wakely had intended to reconnect with Calvin, only to learn of his death. After discovering what happened to Calvin, Wakely officiated his funeral, where he saw Elizabeth and Six-Thirty. Madeline shows Wakely a family photo from the funeral, featuring Calvin's coffin, Elizabeth (who was pregnant with Madeline at the time) and Six-Thirty. Touched by Madeline's situation, Wakely remarks that families don't always conform to the structure of a tree. Before leaving, Madeline confides a secret to Wakely, who reciprocates with one of his own. Madeline’s revelation astonishes Wakely, while she reassures him that his secret isn't too alarming.
Wakely's parting observation that families don't always conform to the structure of a tree is a reflection on the nature of family and the many forms it can take. For Wakely, family goes beyond the biological and legal structures. The secrets Wakely and Madeline exchange solidify the forming of a new friendship. Other than Harriet and perhaps Amanda, Wakely is Madeline’s only friend and confidant, just as he was for Calvin.
Themes
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