Chapter 73: Rose – A Weekend Escape and Unfulfilled Dreams
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Rose tells her husband William that she and the girls are spending the weekend in New Hampshire, but in truth she is riding in Sheila’s convertible toward Cape Cod. All four women—Rose, Sheila, Mary, and Susan—are married with school-age children and have been friends since elementary school. The trip is for Sheila’s birthday, planned a month earlier to escape before Labor Day. Rose directs them to Hyannis, fueled by her well-known infatuation with the Kennedy family. Her friends tease her about it, and William refuses to indulge her fantasies of meeting Jack or Teddy Kennedy. Rose recalls throwing a party when Jack won the nomination, decorating with red, white, and blue, and crying during his speech about the new frontier. She also thinks of Jackie’s difficult pregnancies, comparing them to her own miscarriage. On the drive, she feels hope about the election despite Mary’s skepticism about a Catholic president. Rose has been canvassing in Quincy, though William dismisses her efforts as preaching to the converted. When they reach the Kennedy compound, the friends gawk at the property: a white picket fence, gray clapboard homes, and a green lawn stretching to the sea. Rose has visited the area before, and the sight stirs memories of when she and William once considered buying a Cape house, but now they cannot afford it. Returning to Quincy feels regressive to her, as if she never left childhood. The friends joke about Jackie’s privileged life, with Sheila making a crude remark about Jack, which Rose scolds as inappropriate. Another car drives out; they see nobody famous. Sheila turns the car toward the motel. As they leave, Rose looks back in the side-view mirror, watching the dream of that life disappear behind her.
Key Events
- Rose deceives William about the trip’s destination, choosing Cape Cod instead of New Hampshire.
- The four friends drive to Hyannis to see the Kennedy compound, celebrating Sheila’s birthday.
- Rose reflects on her Kennedy obsession, her campaign work, and her disappointment with William’s lack of enthusiasm.
- The women view the compound and compare it to their own modest homes and lives.
- They briefly glimpse a car leaving the compound but cannot identify the driver.
- Sheila steers them away to the motel, and Rose watches the compound recede in the mirror.
Character Development
- Rose: Her inner desires for glamour and escape clash with her domestic reality. The trip shows her longing for a life of status and excitement, represented by the Kennedys. She feels stuck in Quincy and tired of the same arguments with William. Her lie underscores her willingness to seek brief, independent pleasure.
- William (mentioned): He is pragmatic, dismissive of Rose’s political activism, and prefers the idea of a Maine island vacation. He represents the stable, unadventurous life Rose resents.
- The friends (Sheila, Mary, Susan): They share Rose’s curiosity about the Kennedys but are more cynical and earthy. Sheila’s crude joke contrasts with Rose’s idealized view.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
- Aspiration vs. Reality: The Kennedy compound symbolizes the elegant, wealthy life Rose craves but cannot attain. Her repeated visits there reflect a fantasy that buffers her dissatisfaction.
- The Kennedy Mystique: Jack and Jackie are almost mythological figures for Rose, standing for Catholic success, glamour, and hope. The campaign speeches inspire her, while her friends puncture the myth with humor.
- Escape and Confinement: Rose lies to escape her domestic role for a weekend. Yet the trip is temporary; the compound “disappearing behind her” suggests her dreams remain out of reach.
- Class and Nostalgia: Returning to Quincy makes Rose feel like a child. The friends’ row houses and leaky pipes underscore their working-class roots, contrasted with the Kennedys’ compound.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens Rose’s character by revealing her private yearnings and her willingness to bend the truth to pursue them. It contrasts her public role as a wife and mother with her inner fantasy life, setting up potential conflicts with William. The Kennedy backdrop anchors the story in a specific historical moment (1960 campaign) and reflects the broader theme of American aspiration. Rose’s final backward glance suggests an inability to let go of her dreams, which may influence her future choices.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Rose lie to William about going to New Hampshire?
She wants guilt-free time with her friends in a place that fascinates her—the Kennedy compound at Hyannis. The lie spares her William’s predictable disapproval and allows her to indulge her fantasy without his pragmatic commentary.
2. What does the Kennedy compound represent for Rose, and how do her friends’ reactions differ?
For Rose, the compound represents the glamorous life she imagined for herself: wealth, status, and the excitement of being associated with a powerful family. Her friends are equally awed but more realistic; they mock the privilege and joke about Jackie lounging in bed, while Sheila’s crude remark shows they do not idealize the Kennedys the way Rose does.
3. How does Rose’s past with William—specifically the failed Cape house search—contribute to her current discontent?
Earlier, when William was doing well, they discussed buying on the Cape, but he pushed for an isolated Maine island, which Rose hated. Now, after three moves and a return to Quincy, there is no extra money. That lost opportunity sharpens her sense of being trapped and makes seeing the compound bittersweet.