Chapter 15 — Nancy: Summary, Themes, and 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

In March 1981, Nancy volunteers at a nursing home, where she sits with dying residents and collects their final confessions. She has been doing this since her grandmother's deathbed revelations, which also exposed the secret of Nancy's adoption and her birth name, Jane. While at the nursing home, Nancy realizes her period is two weeks late. After buying a home pregnancy test, she confirms she is pregnant. She immediately decides not to tell Len, the man she has been casually seeing, and keeps the news from her roommates and her mother.

Nancy reflects on her birth mother, Margaret Roberts, and the note she found in her mother's dresser. She thinks about how Margaret must have felt as a young, unwed pregnant woman with few options. Nancy considers adoption but fears she might regret it like Margaret did. She decides to seek an abortion, remembering the advice an ER doctor gave her years ago after her cousin Clara nearly died from a botched back-alley procedure: “Just tell them you’re looking for Jane.”

Nancy calls doctors' offices asking for Jane and is eventually referred to Dr. Evelyn Taylor. On Saturday, March 21, she arrives at Dr. Taylor's house, where nurse Alice lets her in. During the procedure, police arrive with a warrant. Dr. Taylor and Alice stall while Nancy, lying on the exam table, claims she is having a routine PAP test. Officer Pernith, moved by Nancy's bluntness and his own daughter's experience, apologizes and leaves. After the police depart, Dr. Taylor and Alice provide aftercare instructions, antibiotics, and a copy of The Birth Control Handbook. Nancy tells them about her cousin's ordeal at St. Joe's hospital. Before she leaves, Dr. Taylor gives Nancy a card with a phone number and instructs her to tell anyone in need to ask for Jane.

Key Events

Nancy discovers she is two weeks late and takes a home pregnancy test, which is positive.
She decides to keep the pregnancy a secret from Len, her roommates, and her mother.
She recalls her grandmother's deathbed confession and her own birth name, Jane.
She calls doctors' offices asking for Jane and is referred to Dr. Evelyn Taylor.
She visits Dr. Taylor's house on March 21 and meets nurse Alice.
During the procedure, police raid the house with a warrant.
Nancy deflects the police by claiming she is having a routine PAP test, and the officers leave.
Dr. Taylor and Alice give Nancy aftercare instructions, antibiotics, and a birth control handbook.
Nancy mentions her cousin Clara's back-alley abortion and the ER doctor's advice.
Dr. Taylor gives Nancy a card with a phone number, telling her to tell anyone in need to ask for Jane.

Character Development

Nancy's character undergoes significant growth in this chapter. She begins as a young woman who has been reckless—drinking heavily, having unprotected sex, and neglecting her studies—but the pregnancy forces her to confront the consequences of her actions. Her decision to seek a safe abortion, rather than repeat the trauma of her cousin's experience, shows a new sense of responsibility.

Nancy also gains empathy for her birth mother, Margaret. Earlier, she had decided not to pursue Margaret, but now she understands the terror and desperation Margaret must have felt. This empathy deepens when Nancy considers adoption and realizes she might regret giving up a child, just as Margaret did.

During the police raid, Nancy's anger flares, and she speaks boldly to Officer Pernith, surprising even herself. This moment marks a shift from passive acceptance to active defiance. Her interaction with Dr. Taylor and Alice also reveals her capacity for trust and gratitude, as she feels safe in their presence and is reluctant to leave.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Secrecy and shame: Nancy hides her pregnancy from everyone, and the entire abortion network operates in secrecy. The chapter shows how shame drives women to conceal their choices.
Women supporting women: Dr. Taylor, Alice, and the network of Janes provide a safe haven for women. Nancy's own experience with Clara and the ER doctor's advice highlight the importance of women helping each other.
The 'looking for Jane' code: This phrase serves as a password to access the illegal abortion network. It symbolizes the hidden solidarity among women and the need for coded communication in a repressive society.
Reproductive rights: The police raid and the fear of prosecution underscore the legal dangers women faced in 1981. The chapter critiques the system that forces women to risk their lives.
Family secrets: Nancy's grandmother's deathbed confession and her own secret pregnancy echo the theme of hidden truths within families.
Maternal longing: Nancy's thoughts about Margaret and her own potential child reflect the complex emotions surrounding motherhood and adoption.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it introduces the Jane network and shows how it operates under constant threat. Nancy's personal journey—from reckless behavior to seeking a safe abortion—mirrors the broader struggle for reproductive autonomy. The police raid and Nancy's successful deflection highlight the courage of both patients and providers. Moreover, Nancy's connection to the network, through the card she receives, sets her up to become a future link in the chain, passing on the code to others. The chapter also deepens Nancy's character, linking her past trauma with her present choices and her emerging empathy for her birth mother.

Study Questions and Answers

How does Nancy's experience with her cousin Clara influence her decision to seek Dr. Taylor?

Nancy witnessed the horrific consequences of a back-alley abortion when Clara nearly died and had to be rushed to the hospital. The ER doctor's advice to “ask for Jane” stayed with her, and when she finds herself pregnant, she remembers that guidance. This experience makes her determined to find a safe, professional provider rather than risk the same danger.

What does the police raid reveal about the social and legal context of abortion in 1981?

The raid shows that abortion was illegal and heavily policed, forcing providers to operate in secret and patients to lie about their procedures. The fact that the police had a warrant and were determined to shut down the clinic demonstrates the legal hostility toward reproductive rights. However, the raid also reveals the network's resilience, as they have informants and protocols to protect themselves.

How does Nancy's reaction to the police raid show her character growth?

Nancy's bold, sarcastic response to Officer Pernith is a departure from her earlier passivity. She channels her anger into defiance, refusing to be intimidated. This moment marks a turning point where she takes control of her situation, standing up for herself and, by extension, for all women seeking abortions. It also earns her the respect of Dr. Taylor and Alice, who see her strength.

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