The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses miscarriage.

In the novel, Hollywood represents false promises, exclusivity, and meaninglessness of fame. The novel describes Hollywood as “both a place and a feeling” (44). As a city that still represents glamor and success, Hollywood pulls dreamers, artists, and social climbers from all over the world hoping to achieve their greatest ambitions. To Evelyn and many others, it represents the American Dream—a shiny promise that hard work and talent will result in monetary success. However, Evelyn’s relationship with Hollywood is complex; it initially is a haven for her, saving her from poverty, and the money that accompanies fame offers temporary contentment. However, as the very thing she always wanted results in the negation of her identity and the collapse of her relationship, Evelyn recognizes the emptiness of Hollywood’s promises: “[L]ife doesn’t get easier simply because it gets more glamorous” (44). Instead, she is plagued by the same troubles and those that fame brings on; she is still oversexualized and now reduced to a false perception of who she is.

Evelyn’s relationship with fame becomes increasingly strained as she becomes aware of its toxicity. After enduring the media’s cruelty, receiving no critical recognition, and having to hide essential components of her identity, Evelyn is demoralized and dehumanized. Only when she has “more money than [she] could ever use” and her “name cemented in Hollywood history” does Evelyn learn how pointless they both are (192). The novel uses the symbol of Hollywood to illustrate that the veneer of success does not indicate emotional fulfillment. In fact, it is with great irony that the text presents Evelyn at the end of her life: alone, with only the money and fame she so desired, and tortured by the emptiness of her life.