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Chapter 38: Brownies
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
Two days before Wakely showed up at Elizabeth’s apartment, Madeline had gone to Wakely’s office carrying the manila envelope. There, Frask recognized Madeline due to her resemblance to Calvin. Frask tells Madeline that she knew Calvin and that he loved Elizabeth very much. Frask also inadvertently revealed that Elizabeth had been fired for being pregnant with Madeline. Madeline left soon after, with Frask assuring her she would pass the envelope to Wakely. Curious, Frask opened the letter and then wrote to the editors of Life magazine, debunking the published article and exposing the truth about the situation at Hastings, including Donatti’s plagiarism of Elizabeth’s research.
Frask’s revelation to Madeline not only sheds light on the depth of Calvin’s love for Elizabeth but also reveals the unfair circumstances surrounding Elizabeth’s firing from Hastings. Frask feels that she owes Elizabet, so she writes to Life to set the record straight. However, there is an open question about whether or not the editors of Life will care. After all, they seem to care more about selling copies of their magazine than truthfully representing Elizabeth.
Themes
In the next issue of Life, numerous letters from women across the country supporting Elizabeth appear, including Frask’s letter. Harriet, excited, attempts to show these to Elizabeth, but Elizabeth shows no interest. The unpublished article by Roth, which many journals have rejected at this point, also fails to lift her spirits, as it seems no one is interested in the stories of women in science.
The women’s support of Elizabeth suggests that a wider cultural shift is taking place—and that Elizabeth is its figurehead. However, this new voice in the culture has yet to fully materialize, as Roth still struggles to get his article published.
Themes
The same morning, Madeline reads a lunchbox note from Elizabeth that reflects a cynical view of people, indicative of Elizabeth’s growing depression. It’s now November 1961, and both Harriet and Madeline are concerned about Elizabeth’s mental state. Harriet, pondering the situation, suddenly has an idea about a potential audience that might be genuinely interested in stories about women in science.
Elizabeth’s note to Madeline is a questionable parenting decision, as it seems to reflect her current emotional state rather than being useful information for her daughter to absorb. Harriet knows that Elizabeth’s mindset is bad for everyone and begins working on a way to fix it.
Themes
