We Need to Talk About Kevin: Chapter 18: February 18, 2001 Summary & Analysis

In the present, Eva writes to Franklin that she could have endured the pain of Kevin’s murders if she had been allowed to stay with Celia. Nevertheless, she’s glad Franklin is with Celia. Franklin always stayed distant from Celia because he was so afraid of betraying Kevin. Everyone liked Celia and disliked Kevin, and Franklin thought it wasn’t fair. Eva concedes that perhaps it wasn’t. Loving Celia was easier than loving Kevin.

When Eva brings Celia home for the first time, Eva is amazed to find that Celia sleeps easily. She never cries when she is hungry or needs changing. Celia is fascinated by everything and loves all her toys. In fact, she is most attached to her old and broken toys. Celia is very feminine, and she loves dressing up. She is highly sensitive and easily scared. Celia is potty trained before she is two, but she is afraid to use public restrooms alone. She is a picky eater, but she eats anything Eva gives her so as not to disappoint anyone. Franklin accuses Eva of being too attentive to Celia’s every need, and he says Celia is “clingy.” Eva argues that she is not, in fact, clingy. And though she is sweet and emotional, she rarely expresses negativity at all. 

Celia isn’t a good student because she is so afraid of failure that she constantly second guesses herself. Eva finds it hard to punish Celia because she will cry and apologize endlessly if her parents merely speak to her sternly. Eva is frustrated that Celia is afraid of everything except for Kevin, who Eva thinks poses the only real danger to Celia. Eva once finds Celia tied to a chair covered in vomit, with a bowl of mayonnaise, jam, Vaseline, and curry in front of her. Once, Celia finds her schoolbook covered in caterpillars. Another time, Kevin puts Celia in a tree and doesn’t help her down. Still, Celia continues to trust Kevin no matter what he does.

Kevin has always acted differently around Eva and Franklin respectively, but after Celia is born, the difference in Kevin’s behavior intensifies. While Kevin always acts enthusiastic and happy around Franklin, he is always sullen and sarcastic around Eva. Kevin’s schoolwork reflects his indifferent and unemotional affect. His writing is repetitive and detached, though it’s always factually accurate. Eva doesn’t remember much about Kevin from when he is 8 to 14 years old, but she remembers everything about Celia. One memory of Kevin she has from this time is taking him to Vietnam. Kevin finds the trip boring, and he calls the locals “gooks.”

When Kevin is 10, he becomes very ill for a couple weeks. Eva is surprised at how much his attitude changes during his illness. He gratefully accepts Eva’s help. He cuddles with Eva, thanks her, and apologizes for vomiting on the floor. When Celia gives Kevin a drawing, he compliments it. Eva is shocked to see Kevin sad instead of mad. She realizes that he doesn’t have the energy at this time to hate everything. He also rejects Franklin’s company, as he can’t muster the fake enthusiasm he usually shows his father. Eva thinks that Kevin genuinely wants Franklin to accept him, and that it must upset Kevin that Franklin accepts the fake version of him.

Kevin admits to liking a certain soup that Eva makes, and when Eva reads him Robin Hood, he loves it. Kevin recovers after two weeks, and suddenly returns to his bitter self. Eva asks what he wants to eat, and Kevin says that he doesn’t give a “rat’s ass.” However, he continues to read Robin Hood over and over. Eva and Franklin buy Kevin an archery set, and Eva is excited that Kevin is showing interest in something.