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Chapter 21
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
Back in the present, Monique asks Evelyn how she remained so confident when Don left her and her career began to collapse, mentioning that because Evelyn had Celia, it was “a little different.” When Evelyn asks Monique what she means by “different,” Monique admits she’s been thinking about her own divorce. Evelyn asks whether Monique has already signed the papers. Monique accuses her of being cynical in the way she treats divorce, but Evelyn replies that divorce doesn’t signify loss—heartbreak does. Monique wonders why she’s never distinguished between the two.
Monique allows her personal life to seep into her professional assignment, almost without noticing—a sign that her failing marriage is still preoccupying her. It’s clear from Evelyn’s response to Monique’s question about Don leaving her that the official bounds of marriage, like the paperwork and the divorce, mean less to her than the love that is or isn’t at the heart of a relationship. In other words, she doesn’t measure the strength of her relationships based on whether they developed into lasting marriages.
Themes
On her way home, Monique sees that Frankie has called her twice today. She texts her to ask whether she should call tomorrow, but Frankie tells her to call tonight. Monique sees two options: to tell Frankie that everything’s going to plan, or to tell the truth and put her job in jeopardy. Monique decides that she should focus on getting what she wants. She tells Frankie that Evelyn isn’t interested in doing a piece for Vivant—she wants to give her biography to Monique. Though Frankie is offended, Monique assures her she’ll try to convince Evelyn to give Vivant a groundbreaking cover story, as long as Frankie gives her a promotion. Frankie agrees, as long as Monique gets the story.
Frankie is deeply committed to her work and has little respect for Monique’s personal time, suggesting that she can’t imagine Monique wanting or needing a break. Monique’s choice to tell Frankie the truth suggests that she thinks she (Monique) has the upper hand, which appears to be true: Frankie would rather have a small story on Evelyn than no story at all. Monique’s ambition grows the longer she spends with Evelyn.
Themes
