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Evelyn Hugo to Auction Off Gowns
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Ambition vs. Morality
Femininity, Sexuality, and Power
Truth and Identity
Family
Summary
Analysis
Frankie calls Monique into her office. Frankie’s the editor of Vivant, the magazine Monique writes for. She tells Monique that Evelyn Hugo’s people have contacted Vivant to offer them a rare exclusive interview, but Evelyn has specifically requested that Monique write the piece. Monique is confused, as is Frankie: she’s been writing for the magazine for less than a year and hasn’t produced anything substantial. Frankie tells Monique that, while she respects her, she’d rather send a more experienced writer to run the interview. But Evelyn insisted that she’d either do the interview with Monique, or not at all.
The reluctance and shock that Monique and Frankie share about Monique being assigned to this story emphasizes not only Monique’s low status as a beginning reporter at Vivant, but also Evelyn’s towering reputation. It’s clear that getting a story on Evelyn is a big deal—a precious opportunity that could be taken away at a reporter’s first mistake.
Themes
Frankie asks Monique if she knows Evelyn personally. Monique doesn’t think so, but on Frankie’s urging, she texts her Monique’s mother to ask whether Monique’s father might’ve worked on one of Evelyn’s sets when he was a still photographer. Frankie peeks at Monique’s phone while she waits for a reply, but her mom says there’s no chance her dad made any friends on the sets he photographed.
Monique’s father’s involvement in the film industry, and the possibility that he worked on one of Evelyn’s sets, foreshadows an overlap between Monique and Evelyn’s lives. Meanwhile, Frankie’s urge to peek at Monique’s phone suggests she’s someone who desires to have control over others—a control that might cross personal boundaries.
Themes
Frankie suggests that Evelyn has requested Monique because of her lack of experience—it might be easier to get her to write the story Evelyn wants. But Frankie doesn’t think Monique can be bullied. Monique knows that taking this story could fast-track her career. She convinces Frankie that she’s capable by suggesting that, given both Frankie and Evelyn want her to do the interview, she’s the one who needs to be convinced. She immediately regrets her bold statement, but after a moment of silence, Frankie relents, telling her to ace the story.
Monique surprises herself by speaking so frankly to Frankie, which suggests that she’s not used to standing up for herself or exerting authority in the workplace. On the other hand, her outspoken behavior here shows her ambition to grow as a reporter and strengthen her reputation. In this moment, it’s also clear that Frankie respects Monique for her strength and resolve.
Themes
As Monique leaves the office, Frankie tells her that Evelyn might’ve requested her because of the story on physician-assisted suicide she wrote for the Discourse, the previous magazine she worked at. Monique is proud of that story, having pitched the idea herself and researched it thoroughly. She and Frankie agree, though, that Evelyn probably didn’t choose her for her talent. Still, Frankie tells Monique that if she does well on this story, she might be a sought-after journalist in the future.
To evidence Monique’s writing talent, Frankie refers to a story Monique wrote for a previous publication, which is a clear sign that Monique hasn’t written anything substantial during her time at Vivant. Monique and Frankie betray their cynicism about celebrities when they agree that Evelyn probably doesn’t care about Monique’s writing and must instead have an ulterior motive.
Themes
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