If I Tell You the Truth Chapter 72 Summary: selfie
⚠️ 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
Chapter 72, titled “selfie,” is a short poem in which the speaker describes the process of preparing for and taking a self‑portrait. She applies wing‑tip eyeliner and notes her eyes—likened to chocolate oceans and inherited from her mother. Her lashes, lips (described as rosy mauve), and glistening cheekbones are all accentuated with makeup. She wears a black turtleneck dress and a teddy bear coat. The poem ends with the declaration that today and every day she considers herself her own woman crush. The chapter is a quiet, radiant moment of self‑affirmation.
Key Events
- The speaker lines her eyes with wing‑tip liner, sharp as a butterfly blade.
- She admires her brown eyes, which she connects to her mother’s.
- She notices her long lashes and applies rosy mauve lip colour.
- Her cheekbones are highlighted to a glistening finish.
- She dresses in a black turtleneck dress and a teddy bear coat.
- She takes a selfie and declares herself “my own woman crush.”
Character Development
- The speaker (likely Kiran or the novel’s protagonist): This poem reveals a shift toward genuine self‑appreciation. Earlier in the book, the protagonist’s sense of self is often fractured by trauma, cultural expectations, and external judgment. Here, she reclaims her body and appearance on her own terms. The act of taking a selfie becomes an intentional act of owning her image.
- Inherited traits: The reference to her mother’s eyes shows that her identity is rooted in family even as she asserts her individuality. It suggests healing and acceptance of her lineage.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
- Self‑love as radical act: The declaration of being one’s own crush inverts the typical outward direction of desire. The speaker does not wait for someone else to admire her; she does it herself.
- Reclaiming the gaze: A selfie is a self‑portrait in which the subject controls the frame, angle, and presentation. This contrasts with moments in the book where characters are photographed without consent or judged by others. The speaker is both the subject and the audience.
- Makeup as armor and art: The vivid descriptions of eyeliner, lips, and cheekbones show that adornment is not performed for other people but as a form of personal expression and empowerment.
- Mother‑daughter legacy: The “chocolate ocean eyes inherited from mom” ties her beauty to her mother, honouring that bond even as she forges her own identity.
- Teddy bear coat: The mention of “teddy bear” evokes comfort, softness, and nostalgia, balancing the sharpness of the eyeliner and the glamour of the dress.
Why This Chapter Matters
This brief poem is a turning point in tone. After the tension, micro‑aggressions, and grief that colour earlier chapters, “selfie” stands as a quiet celebration of self‑acceptance. It demonstrates that the protagonist is learning to find joy in her own reflection without needing validation from a romantic partner or society. In a novel that grapples with sexual assault, diaspora identity, and the pressure to conform, this chapter offers a moment of unapologetic self‑love. It reinforces the book’s central message that healing is possible and that a woman’s body belongs first and foremost to herself.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does the phrase “my own woman crush” challenge conventional ideas of beauty and desirability?
Answer: The phrase turns the gaze entirely inward. A “crush” is usually a feeling directed at someone else, but here the speaker directs it toward herself. This redefines admiration as something that can be self‑generated, breaking the expectation that women must seek approval from others—especially men.
2. What is the significance of describing her eyes as “inherited from mom”?
Answer: It acknowledges the speaker’s familial and cultural inheritance. In a book that often explores the fractures between generations and the weight of trauma, this line shows pride in a physical trait passed down from her mother. It suggests a reclamation of her roots and a sense of continuity.
3. Why might the author choose a selfie as the subject of a chapter poem?
Answer: A selfie is a deliberate, modern act of self‑representation. By giving a poem about taking a selfie, Kaur highlights how women can control their own image and narrative—especially important in a story where characters have been objectified or photographed without consent. It also grounds the character’s growth in a contemporary, everyday ritual.