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Chapter 40: Normal
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
At the start of the next Supper at Six episode, Elizabeth shocks her audience by announcing her retirement, declaring it her final show. The previous evening, she went gone to inform Walter of her decision and unexpectedly found Harriet at his home. It turns out that Walter and Harriet have been carrying on an affair, which they planned to keep under wraps until Harriet’s divorce was finalized. Upon learning about Elizabeth’s decision to retire, both Walter and Harriet were moved to tears. Walter did not want Supper at Six to end, but he respects Elizabeth’s decision and supports her.
Elizabeth’s announcement of her retirement on Supper at Six is an end to a significant chapter in her life. Her decision to retire signifies a major turning point and suggests a need for personal reflection and possibly a new direction in her life. Meanwhile, the revelation of Walter and Harriet’s affair, shows that Harriet is more willingly to step outside the bounds of conventional morality than she would have been before meeting Elizabeth.
Themes
During the episode, Elizabeth expresses her gratitude to the audience for their support, viewership, and their role in helping her make history. She updates them on Marjorie Fillis, the housewife who once aspired to be a heart surgeon. Marjorie has now swiftly completed her pre-med studies and been accepted into medical school. Elizabeth encourages all her female viewers to be brave enough to embrace change like Marjorie. She also acknowledges Harriet as a dear friend and shares the advice Harriet had given her years ago: to take time for herself daily and recommit.
Elizabeth’s final episode is not just a farewell but a celebration of her impact and the progress of women who have been inspired by her. The story of Marjorie Fillis serves as a testament to the show's influence, which highlights the transformative power of encouragement regardless of societal expectations. Also, Elizabeth’s mention of Harriet is her small way of thanking her friend for her help and guidance over the years.
Themes
The audience responds with enthusiastic applause as Elizabeth wraps up the show. In a spontaneous moment, Walter thinks of a fitting final line and displays it on a cue card: “This concludes your introduction to chemistry […] Class dismissed.” Elizabeth uses this line to end the episode, marking the conclusion of her journey on the show.
The audience's applause and Walter's impromptu cue card with the final line — “This concludes your introduction to chemistry […] Class dismissed”—serves as a fitting tribute to Elizabeth’s role as both an educator and a public figure. Previously, Elizabeth complained that Walter’s writing on the cue cards was terrible, and this scene shows that he has evolved as a result of working with her.
Themes
