Good Dirt Chapter 77: Escalators Summary & Analysis
⚠️ 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
The chapter opens with Avery at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. As she rides the escalator up from the ground level, she types notes about the former railway station's conversion into an art museum. Looking at the vaulted ceiling and iron beams, she reflects on how old buildings can be reimagined for new purposes, though it is often harder and costlier than rebuilding. Between the ground floor and the upper level, she has a personal revelation: she needs a renovation of her own. She decides she will not board the plane to Connecticut tomorrow. She will stay in Paris for now.
Meanwhile, Henry is halfway up the escalator at JFK airport's passport control. He feels glad to be home yet unsettled—nothing feels the same as before. By the time he steps off the escalator, he has resolved to apply for an artists' residency that will let him focus on his photography. He plans to take a leave of absence from his job and find a way to make it work. But first, he knows he has something else to do, though the chapter does not specify what.
Elsewhere, Ebby has returned to the coast on her own. She stands between the bathrooms and the down escalator overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Watching the waves come and go, she wonders how long the water takes to cross the ocean to North America. She feels her body being pulled toward the sea and understands that she needs to go back to Connecticut to see her parents and talk to them. But she adds: not yet.
Each character rides an escalator—a moving staircase that carries them between levels—and in that liminal space, each makes a decision about their next step.
Key Events
- Avery, riding the escalator at the Musée d'Orsay, decides to remain in Paris rather than return to Connecticut.
- Henry, halfway up the escalator at JFK, commits to applying for an artists' residency for his photography.
- Ebby, on a down escalator overlooking the Atlantic, resolves to visit her parents in Connecticut but delays the visit.
Character Development
- Avery demonstrates a growing awareness of her own need for change. Her observation of the museum's repurposing sparks a parallel insight: she requires a personal renovation. This marks a shift from passive acceptance to active decision-making.
- Henry shows ambivalence about returning home. Although he is glad to be back, he acknowledges that nothing is the same. His decision to pursue an artists' residency indicates he is prioritizing his artistic growth over comfort and routine.
- Ebby grapples with the pull of family and the ocean. Her choice to see her parents but to postpone the visit suggests she is emotionally ready to reconnect but needs to control the timing. The ocean symbolizes the distance and connection between her current life and her past.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Escalators as threshold – Each character is literally between floors, representing a transitional state. The escalator carries them but they still must choose where to step off.
- Renovation and repurposing – Avery’s reflection on the Musée d'Orsay mirrors her own need to reinvent her life. The difficulty of renovating an old building parallels the challenge of personal change.
- The ocean as connection – Ebby watches the Atlantic and imagines the water's journey to North America, linking her coastal location to her family in Connecticut. It becomes a metaphor for emotional currents that pull her back home.
- Timing and delay – Ebby's "not yet" echoes the chapter's theme of controlled timing. She knows what she must do but chooses when to do it, preserving her agency.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 77 is a turning point for the three main characters. Each has been on a journey, and now, in distinct locations, they each make a conscious decision about their next step. The parallel structure of the escalator imagery unites their separate stories, emphasizing that all are in transition. The chapter also sets up future plotlines: Avery's extended stay in Paris, Henry's pursuit of an artistic project, and Ebby's eventual reunion with her parents. It highlights the theme of personal reimagination that runs throughout the novel.
Study Questions and Answers
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How does Avery's observation of the Musée d'Orsay's renovation mirror her personal situation?
She notes that repurposing an old building is difficult and costly but yields unique results. Similarly, she realizes she needs to reimagine her own life, accepting that personal change will not be easy but can lead to something distinctive. -
What does Henry's decision to apply for an artists' residency suggest about his priorities?
It shows he is willing to disrupt his current stability—taking a leave of absence and finding a way to finance it—for the sake of his photography. This indicates that artistic fulfillment now outweighs the comfort of familiar routines. -
Why does Ebby decide to visit her parents but say "not yet"?
She feels an emotional pull toward her family and recognizes the need for reconciliation. However, she is not ready to face that conversation immediately. The delay allows her to prepare herself and maintain a sense of control over the timing of the reunion.