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Chapter 1
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
An article on TheSpill.com claims that Evelyn Hugo has agreed to an interview, something she hasn’t done for decades. The author hopes Hugo will reveal the stories of her seven marriages, and she fawns over old pictures of the actor’s eyes, skin, and body. She goes on to express her frustration that Hugo chose an unknown writer to conduct the interview, rather than a more seasoned journalist like herself.
By name alone, The Spill seems to be a publication driven more by rumor and gossip than by fact—it’s clearly set up as a contrasting publication to the more reputable New York Tribune. This reporter’s unrestrained tone reinforces the idea that this publication, like the tabloids in later chapters, is willing to run with an assumed story rather than wait for the facts.
Themes
In the comments, readers argue about Hugo’s relevance and beauty, with some believing that her donations to charities are more worthy of discussion than the author’s preoccupation with her appearance. One commenter calls one of Hugo’s films “a disgrace to women” for its overt sexuality, while another calls her “the most beautiful woman of all time,” referencing a shot in one of her movies that cut to black just before her nipples were revealed.
The readers’ comments emphasize the double-edged sword of femininity that society constantly wields against Evelyn. No matter what she does, she’ll receive praise and criticism in equal measure. Even artistic decisions Evelyn made decades ago are still the subject of heated debate, which suggests that the way society critiques and objectifies women has been slow to change.
Themes
