Miss Lonelyhearts

by

Nathanael West

Miss Lonelyhearts: Chapter 9  Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Determined to help Miss Lonelyhearts feel better, Betty continues visiting him, bringing soup and boiled chicken. Whenever Miss Lonelyhearts mentions work or Jesus, though, Betty changes the subject, telling him instead about how she grew up on a farm. Betty takes Miss Lonelyhearts to the zoo and plans a trip for the two of them to visit the farm in Connecticut, where she was born. Although Miss Lonelyhearts finds it a bit silly that Betty seems to believe that animals have the power to heal him, he goes along with it. At Betty’s family’s old farm, the two camp inside a rundown house, cooking and eating food, watching animals, swimming, drinking gin, and enjoying nature. Although Betty gets a bit restless, they seem to enjoy each other’s company, sharing kisses.
In this brief stint in Connecticut, Betty proves herself to be perhaps the most reasonable major character of the novella, though she does act based on simplistic and traditional ideas about the health benefits of getting out of a city. Although Miss Lonelyhearts does find Betty’s efforts a little humorous, Betty genuinely believes that spending time in the countryside and with nature will heal him. Her genuine belief in her proposed fix sets her apart from Miss Lonelyhearts, Shrike, and the other newspaper employees, who aren’t nearly as genuine in their interactions with the advice column readers.
Themes
Religion and Morality in Modern Society Theme Icon
The Limitations of Love Theme Icon
Quotes