Lessons in Chemistry

“Tall and angular, with hair the color of burnt buttered toast pulled back and secured with a pencil, she stood, hands on hips, her lips unapologetically red, her skin luminous, her nose straight. […] She was stunning. He was literally stunned by her.”

When Elizabeth storms into the KCTV studios to confront Walter about Amanda’s behavior, he is stunned by her. Elizabeth is described as a highly attractive woman, and the kind of presence she commands is impressive enough to make her successful as a television star later on. However, Elizabeth’s attractiveness is also her curse; her intellect and her scientific brilliance are often overlooked and brushed aside precisely because of her appearance.

“‘Sex discrimination,’ she answered, taking the number-two pencil she always wore either behind her ear or in her hair and tapping it with emphasis on the table. ‘But also, politics, favoritism, inequality, and general unfairness.’”

Elizabeth explains to Calvin why her work with abiogenesis has been halted. Elizabeth is completely aware of the injustice present in the system that routinely favors men’s accomplishments over women’s. It also features the number-two pencil that Elizabeth always wears on her person: it also stands as a symbol of Elizabeth’s defiance and her determination to fight back, just as she had unapologetically stabbed Meyers with a number-two pencil to fend off his advances.

“He’d not had much experience with families, but he’d always assumed that being part of one was important: a prerequisite for stability, what one relied on to get through the hard times. He’d never really considered that a family could actually be the hard times.”

Calvin and Elizabeth discuss their respective family backgrounds, and Calvin discovers that despite Elizabeth having had a family, she did not have a happy childhood. Calvin’s realization that families can be the source of distress, rather than stability, highlights the theme of Re-examining the Meaning of Family. The concept of a family is closely examined, and the question of how important biological ties truly are is explored throughout the book.

“Still, it was also 1952, and in 1952 an unmarried woman did not move in with a man. So he was a bit surprised when Elizabeth didn’t hesitate. ‘I’ll pay half,’ she’d said.”

Elizabeth agrees to Calvin’s suggestion that they move in together without any hesitation, despite the fact that they are still unmarried. Elizabeth consistently displays a progressiveness that shocks the people around her. Her rationale and way of approaching the world is deeply logical, unhindered by moral judgment or social mores.

“‘Now I’m disrupting the egg’s internal bonds in order to elongate the amino acid chain,’ she told him as she whisked, ‘which will allow the freed atoms to bond with other similarly freed atoms. Then I’ll reconstitute the mix into a loose whole, laying it on a surface of iron-carbon alloy, where I’ll subject it to precision heat, continually agitating the mix until it reaches a stage of near coagulation.’”

Elizabeth narrates to Six-Thirty as she prepares scrambled eggs. This particular passage is an example of how Elizabeth approaches cooking, as an exercise in chemistry. Her perceptions and descriptions of the process of cooking throughout the book are done in similarly scientific terms, and it makes her target audience of housewives feel smart and capable to be spoken to in such a manner. This points to Elizabeth’s characteristic of refusing to accept limitations not only on her own potential but on that of other women as well.

“He brought home the bacon; she pumped out the babies. It was a normal, productive, God-approved marriage. Did he sleep with other women? What a question. Didn’t everyone?

Donatti reflects on his own marriage, and how he dislikes Elizabeth for not fitting the mold of the typical woman of her time. Donatti’s description of his own marriage is a crude, but fairly accurate representation of the kind of attitudes that were held about men and women, and the distinct roles they assayed within marriage and society, during this time period in American history. Along with Meyers and Lebensmal, Donatti is one of the characters who represents patriarchy and its oppressive characteristics at its worst, within the book.

“‘How dare you,’ he said, his voice rising. ‘A woman telling me what pregnancy is. Who do you think you are?’ 

She seemed surprised by the question. ‘A woman,’ she said.”

Donatti reacts angrily when Elizabeth asserts that pregnancy is a normal human condition. The humor in this particular interaction lies in the ludicrousness of Donatti assuming to know more about pregnancy than a woman, which also serves to highlight the societal double-standards for men and women.

“‘Everything looks shipshape,’ he said as he stripped off his gloves. And when she didn’t smile or say anything in return, he said in a low voice, 'For the baby at least. I’m sure this has been enormously difficult for you.’ It was the first time someone had acknowledged her situation, and the shock of it caught in her throat."

Dr. Mason acknowledges the difficulty of Elizabeth’s situation during her consultation with him. He is the first person to express any empathy or understanding, and Elizabeth is visibly moved. Dr. Mason’s actions speak to his progressive nature. He accepts Elizabeth’s pregnancy with judgment, expresses his sympathy without condescension, and invites her to row without reservation.

“‘What I find interesting about rowing […] is that it’s always done backwards. It’s almost as if the sport itself is trying to teach us not to get ahead of ourselves. […] Actually, when you think about it, rowing is almost exactly like raising kids. Both require patience, endurance, strength, and commitment. And neither allow us to see where we’re going—only where we’ve been. I find that very reassuring, don’t you?’”

Dr. Mason talks about rowing to Elizabeth after her first session with the men’s team after Madeline’s birth. Dr. Mason perfectly sums up one of the ideas that rowing as a motif symbolizes, in the book: the difficulties of parenting. Unbeknownst to Elizabeth, she had been preparing herself for Madeline’s arrival by rowing, as it built up the precise qualities needed for parenting–patience, endurance, strength, and commitment. The comparison of rowing to parenting also helps highlight the difference in societal perception regarding what men and women do. Where rowing, at that time seen as a male pursuit, is a sport worthy of attention and respect, parenting, seen as a woman’s domain, is taken for granted and expected to come naturally to all women.

“The teacher, a Mrs. Mudford, shifted her gaze from Madeline to Elizabeth, looking at the too-pretty mother as if to pinpoint the source of the bad attitude. She glanced at Elizabeth’s empty ring finger. Bingo.”

When Madeline expresses a desire to do things that boys do, Mrs. Mudford is displeased and attributes such “bad attitude” to Madeline’s upbringing. Mrs. Mudford’s character stands to demonstrate how women are equally capable of perpetuating the patriarchy. Mrs. Mudford is critical of Madeline’s capabilities and interests which are, according to her, decidedly unfeminine. She is judgmental about both Elizabeth and Walter, believing them to be unfit parents owing to their respective circumstances and gossips about this with other parents at the school later in the book.

“‘You misunderstand me, Mrs. Zott. Children interrupt; that I can deal with. What I can’t deal with is a child who wants to change the discussion to civil rights. This is kindergarten, not The Huntley-Brinkley Report.’

Mrs. Mudford disapproves of Madeline’s intelligence, perceptiveness, and appetite for a higher level discussion than what she considers age-appropriate. In an example of The Circumscription of Women’s Ambition by the Patriarchy, Mrs. Mudford imposes arbitrary limitations Madeline’s learning and exploration, in stark contrast to the way Madeline has been raised by Elizabeth.

“‘These are just normal housewives you’ll be talking to,’ Walter told her. ‘Just your average Janes.’ 

Elizabeth had looked back in a way that scared him. ‘There’s nothing average about the average housewife,’ she corrected.”

Walter tries to persuade Elizabeth to be more entertaining and less academic in her approach by describing her audience as “average”, earning Elizabeth’s reproach. Elizabeth’s response is born out of her own frustrating experiences of having been treated as less than she is. Thus, she treats her viewers with the same encouraging and respectful attitude that she does Madeline: she speaks to them with the belief that they are worthy of respect and capable of understanding important information.

“Harriet considered the possibility that the child was a genius. Her father had been. But no. It was just that Mad was well taught and that was because of Elizabeth. Elizabeth simply refused to accept limits, not just for herself, but for others.”

Harriet reflects on Madeline’s advanced capabilities for her age and what seems to have contributed to it. Harriet’s assessment of Elizabeth’s character is spot-on, and explains the attitude Elizabeth displays towards her work, her child, as well as her viewers. Just as she once learned to row by applying herself to understand physics, she offers scientific explanations to her audience to help them learn cooking, and even goes on to encourage an audience member to pursue their dream of becoming a surgeon, emphasizing that it is never too late to learn something new.

“‘Men and women are both human beings. And as humans, we’re by-products of our upbringings, victims of our lackluster educational systems, and choosers of our behaviors. In short, the reduction of women to something less than men, and the elevation of men to something more than women, is not biological: it’s cultural. And it starts with two words: pink and blue. Everything skyrockets out of control from there.’”

Elizabeth argues with Harriet about the latter’s conception of the differences between men and women. Elizabeth’s succinct summation of what she believes to be the root of these differences is an expression of the main idea that Garmus is trying to convey: that gender differences are socially constructed and arbitrary. This underlying idea is explored through the themes of Patriarchy and Women’s Ambition, as well as Sexism and Harassment in the Workplace, throughout the book.

“‘Your relatives can’t make you important or smart. They can’t make you you.’

‘What makes me me, then?’

‘What you choose to do. How you live your life.’”

Wakely dismisses the undue importance placed on relatives and biological family, in conversation with Madeline. This is in keeping with the concept of Family is explored in the book—relationships based on mutual trust, understanding, and affection, are seen to be far more meaningful than ones based purely on blood ties.

“‘Next, apply a liberal amount of sodium chloride—‘ 

‘Would it kill her to say salt?’ Walter hissed. ‘Would it?’

‘I like how she uses science-y words,’ Rosa said. ‘It makes me feel—I don’t know—capable.’ 

‘Capable?' he said. ‘Capable? What happened to wanting to feel slim and beautiful?’”

Walter is irritated by Elizabeth’s insistence on using scientific terms on the show, and is countered by Rosa, who expresses that she likes this. Walter’s reaction highlights how women and their needs were viewed at this point of time: they were expected to value their appearance above all else, thus allowing their reduction to little more than sex objects and baby-making machines. The idea of a woman wanting to feel smart and capable was alien and unimaginable. A woman like Elizabeth, who was both attractive and intelligent but personally chose to focus on the latter, is unsettling and incomprehensible for the men around her.

“'Often the best way to deal with the bad,’ she said, feeling for her pencil, ‘is to turn it on end—use it as a strength, refuse to allow the bad thing to define you. Fight it.’”

Elizabeth talks to Madeline about how Calvin persevered despite his difficult upbringing, encouraging Madeline to do the same in the face of setbacks. This speaks to Elizabeth’s own resilience and self-sufficiency that shines through in multiple instances throughout the book; her touching the pencil while she says these lines is particularly significant, as the pencil is a reminder of her encounter with Meyers, and a symbol of her ability and determination to fight back.

“Madeline turned to take in the audience. They sat nervously, impatient for Elizabeth Zott to reappear. She felt a small pang of jealousy. She suddenly realized she had to share her mother with a lot of other people. She didn’t like it.”

Madeline watches Elizabeth live for the first time. Her realization that she shares her mother with a large, public audience, and the resultant feeling of jealousy, is an indication of the kind of sheltered life Madeline has led so far. It points to the kind of mother Elizabeth is: protective, as she has made every effort to keep Madeline away from the reality of celebrity, and loving and engaged, as Madeline loves her mother deeply, thus is reluctant to share her with the world.

“‘I don’t have hopes, […] I have faith.’ 

He looked at her in surprise. ‘Well, that’s a funny word to hear coming from you.’

‘How come?’ 

‘Because, […] well, you know. Religion is based on faith.’ 

‘But you realize,’ she said carefully, as if not to embarrass him further, ‘that faith isn’t based on religion. Right?’”

Wakely is surprised to hear that Madeline has faith even through she is not religious, to which Madeline responds that faith is not based on religion. This points to an important, underlying idea in the book—what lies at the core of a person is not based on social institutions, and thus ought not to be dictated by them. Faith can exist without being limited or dictated by religion; humanity can be expressed without being limited or dictated by a belief in God; thus, an individual’s potential and capabilities ought to be explored without being limited or dictated by gender roles and expectations.

“‘All dogs have the ability to bite,’ she said over her shoulder. ‘Just as all humans have the ability to cause harm. The trick is to act in a reasonable way so that harm becomes unnecessary.’”

Madeline attempts to reassure Roth that Six-Thirty will not bite him. The choice of wording here displays Elizabeth’s characteristic rationality and logical approach to everything in life. She is governed by reason far more than emotion or morality.

“‘I fell in love with Calvin,’ she was saying, ‘because he was intelligent and kind, but also because he was the very first man to take me seriously. Imagine if all men took women seriously. Education would change. The workforce would revolutionize. Marriage counselors would go out of business. Do you see my point?’”

Elizabeth explains to Roth what caused her to fall in love with Calvin. Elizabeth’s description of Calvin confirms that he is an anomaly for his time, a man who took a woman seriously. It highlights how Elizabeth and Calvin’s relationship was one of mutual respect, and thus points to this being the secret to a happy, healthy, and fulfilling relationship.

“Harriet looked away. No, she wasn’t sure. She’d never been less sure of anything in her life. Everyone has a breaking point; she worried that Elizabeth had finally reached hers."

Harriet worries about Elizabeth and the depression she has sunk into after the Life magazine article. This is the only point in the book where one sees Elizabeth devoid of her usual no-nonsense behavior and determined attitude towards work and life. It demonstrates just how deeply hurt and broken Elizabeth is, a result of the build-up of the numerous obstacles she has faced thus far.

“‘Sometimes I understand why my brother left,’ she admitted quietly. ‘After everything that’s happened, sometimes I feel like I want out, too.’

‘I get that,’ Wakely said […]. ‘Believe me. But that’s not really your problem. It’s not that you want out.[…] It’s that you want back in.’"

Elizabeth and Wakely discuss John and Elizabeth’s guilt over his death. This particular passage is indicative of how, despite the deep hurt and lack of motivation Elizabeth is currently experiencing, her resilient nature has not been completely submerged. Wakely recognizes that, as tired as she is of everything that has happened, Elizabeth has not let go of her passion and desire to work in science again.