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Chapter 48
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
Later that night, Harry has already returned to the hotel to check on Connor. Max’s limo pulls up to where Max and Evelyn are sitting outside a mansion. Max asks if Evelyn wants a ride to her hotel; his date disappeared after the awards show, but he feels happy to have spent his evening with Evelyn, “the most beautiful woman in the world.” He tells her to get in the limo with him: they’ll go get hamburgers. Evelyn wants to go back to the hotel to see Connor, but she agrees to go with Max.
Harry focuses on his role as a father while Evelyn seems to be open to romance again. Her decision to go with Max—who has been openly flirting with her—is spontaneous, and their location of choice, a casual burger joint, is a public and uncontrolled location, which suggests that Evelyn feels a sense of freedom and power after winning and Oscar.
Themes
Max and Evelyn end up standing in line at a fast-food restaurant. When the cashier recognizes Evelyn, Evelyn tells her she has no idea what she’s talking about. Soon, Evelyn is mobbed by people asking for her autograph. Max wades through the crowd, puts Evelyn over his shoulder, and carries her to the limo. Once they’re in the car, he tells her he loves her and kisses her. Evelyn experiences desire for the first time since Celia left. Max tells her to do what she likes with his confession. In the morning, two-dozen red roses arrive at her hotel room with a note from Max asking her to marry him.
Evelyn doesn’t want to cause a scene, but she can’t help it—her appearance has become iconic, and she’s now, evidently, a household name. Meanwhile, it’s clear that Max sees himself becoming Evelyn’s lover, and in any case, he’s pleased to be seen doing something so classically masculine and romantic.
Themes
