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Chapter 37: Sold Out
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
In July 1961, the popularity of Supper at Six soars due to the Life magazine article. Feeling betrayed by Roth’s apparent duplicity, Elizabeth stops responding to his calls and, overwhelmed by depression, ends up baking brownies on her show for several consecutive days. Harriet tries to shield Madeline from the article, but Madeline reads it anyway and gets upset due to how it falsely portrays her mother.
The Life magazine article, for better or for worse, contributes to the increased popularity of Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s response to the article—baking brownies repeatedly on her show—is a coping mechanism for dealing with the stress that the article misrepresentation caused her.
Themes
One evening, while Harriet is out, Wakely stops by to check on Madeline. Shortly after, Elizabeth arrives and recognizes Wakely from the funeral. Wakely knows that his presence is strange, and he does his best to explain himself. Luckily, Elizabeth does not appear concerned. Through Wakely, Elizabeth learns that Roth wrote a different article about her that he still intends to publish.
Here, characters who have remained largely separate throughout the narrative begin to link up. Although Wakely fears he will look suspicious, Elizabeth immediately trusts him because of his relationship with Calvin. Although Wakely does not know it, Elizabeth actually knows him quite well from reading his letters.
Themes
Roth had come to Elizabeth’s home recently, but Madeline, following Harriet’s instructions to not answer the door, didn’t let him in. Roth left a manila envelope at the door, which Madeline read and then gave to Wakely. With Wakely out, Madeline left the envelope with Frask, who informed Wakely that Madeline was very upset.
Roth dislikes how the article came out and wants to make it up to Elizabeth. He also does not want to her to think badly of him, as he genuinely enjoyed their time together. However, a series of coincidences led him to be unable to deliver his message to Elizabeth in a timely fashion.
Themes
Elizabeth is annoyed that so many people are going through her private mail. Wakely gives the envelope to Elizabeth, revealing Roth’s new, unpublished article titled “Why Their Minds Matter” with a sub-heading about bias in science and women’s efforts to counteract it. Accompanying the article is Roth’s note, apologizing and explaining that he quit Life magazine. He has been trying to get his truthful article published elsewhere, but it has been rejected by 10 scientific journals.
Roth’s struggle to find a publisher for this article suggests that sensationalist media is much easier to sell than thoughtful, substantive journalism. However, Roth’s decision to continue to shop the article demonstrates that he knows Elizabeth has been treated poorly—in part because of him—and he wants to make things right.
Themes
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Still, Madeline is upset because about everything that her mother has to endure. She does not think it is fair. Madeline tells Elizabeth that she knows that Hastings treated her unfairly because Wakely’s typist told her the truth. When Elizabeth asks Wakely about this typist, he reveals that it is someone Elizabeth knows.
Madeline’s reaction to the article shows the personal impact such public portrayals can have on family members. It also underscores Madeline’s protective feelings toward her mother.
Themes
