Chapter 36 Summary: Key Events, 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
The chapter opens on a Friday afternoon, the day before Maddie's father's funeral. Penny reminds Maddie of her scheduled appointment with Angelina, the company therapist. Maddie, visibly exhausted, goes to the session. Angelina immediately notices Maddie's state and asks if she's all right; Maddie deflects, mentioning the funeral and lack of sleep.
During the session, Angelina probes Maddie's habits. Maddie admits she talks to herself, both in her head and out loud, and that she often says “I love you” to friends and family. Angelina asks why Maddie talks to herself, suggesting it might be because she's often alone or because she feels she can't be open with others. Maddie reflects on her childhood, how she was often alone in her small room, and how she grew to prefer solitude because she had no choice. Angelina also asks about her parents' expressions of love. Maddie reveals that her father only said “I love you” twice—once when drunk and once when unwell—and that she always initiates saying it to her mother. Angelina gently challenges Maddie's assumptions about love, explaining that love can be expressed in many ways and that it's not Maddie's responsibility to reshape people.
Angelina then directly tells Maddie that she is suffering from depression. Maddie resists, listing all the reasons she thinks she's fine—she's still working, still functioning—but Angelina insists that acknowledging the problem is the first step. Maddie becomes overwhelmed, listing her mounting problems: her father's death, her mother's complexity, her brother's absence, her breakup, her flatmate situation, and her fear that her ideas are being stolen at work. She starts to feel hot, has a panic attack, and faints.
The company doctor, Dr. Rusher, examines her and advises rest and a GP appointment, possibly for a beta-blocker. Penny sends Maddie home, and Kris calls Maddie's mother, who comes to pick her up.
At the flat, Maddie's mother tries to comfort her, suggesting prayer. Maddie snaps, saying she's not fine and that prayer doesn't always work. They argue, but eventually Mum sits down and asks what's wrong. Maddie admits she feels responsible for her father's death because she missed his birthday. Mum reassures her, saying she was there for all the other birthdays and that her presence was enough. Mum then reveals a long-held secret: her marriage to Maddie's father was arranged by her own father in exchange for wealth. She had been in love with a man named Kwaku, whom she met at university in Accra, but she left him to marry Maddie's father. She stayed with her father out of penance, believing his illness was punishment from God. She also explains that she reconnected with Kwaku and that he is her best friend.
Mum then explains the meaning of “Maame.” She says it's a term of endearment her own father used for her, and that it means “woman” but also implies someone who is needed and grows up fast. Maddie, who has always disliked the name, begins to understand its deeper significance. The chapter ends with Mum cooking for Maddie and telling her to rest.
Key Events
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Maddie attends her therapy session with Angelina, where she discusses her self-talk and expressions of love.
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Angelina diagnoses Maddie with depression, which Maddie initially resists.
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Maddie has a panic attack and faints during the session.
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Dr. Rusher examines her and advises rest and a GP appointment.
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Penny sends Maddie home, and Kris calls Maddie's mother, who picks her up.
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At the flat, Maddie and her mother have a raw conversation about grief, guilt, and family secrets.
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Mum reveals that her marriage to Maddie's father was arranged in exchange for wealth, and that she loved Kwaku.
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Mum explains the meaning of “Maame” as a term of endearment from her own childhood.
Character Development
Maddie is at her most vulnerable in this chapter. She admits to feeling exhausted by everything—talking, moving, feeling, thinking, living. She finally tells her mother she is not fine, breaking her pattern of emotional suppression. She also confronts her guilt about her father's death, acknowledging that she blames herself for missing his birthday. Through Angelina's probing, Maddie begins to see that her self-talk and constant “I love you” might be coping mechanisms for a lack of reciprocal emotional expression in her family.
Mum is revealed to be far more complex than Maddie ever knew. She confesses that her marriage was arranged, that she loved another man, and that she stayed with her father out of penance. She also shows a softer side, admitting her own mistakes and expressing regret. Her explanation of “Maame” reframes the term from a burden to a term of endearment, though Maddie still questions its implications.
Angelina serves as a catalyst, pushing Maddie to confront her avoidance and acknowledge her depression. She challenges Maddie's assumptions about love and responsibility, setting the stage for Maddie's later acceptance of her mother's imperfections.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Depression and mental health: Angelina's diagnosis and Maddie's panic attack highlight the reality of depression, which Maddie had been dismissing as mere grief.
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Love languages and expressions of love: Angelina discusses how people express love differently, and Maddie reflects on her father's rare verbal affirmations versus her mother's actions.
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Arranged marriage and family secrets: Mum's revelation about her arranged marriage and her love for Kwaku exposes the hidden sacrifices and complexities in her life.
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Guilt and self-blame: Maddie blames herself for her father's death, while Mum carries guilt for her own choices.
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Maame as caretaker role: The term is redefined as a term of endearment, but also as a role that forces children to grow up fast, echoing Maddie's own experience.
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Intergenerational patterns: Mum's story about her own father and her brother parallels Maddie's relationship with her family, showing a cycle of caregiving and emotional suppression.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal because it unravels the central mystery of Maddie's family history. Mum's confession about her arranged marriage and her love for Kwaku humanizes her, transforming her from a distant, critical figure into a woman with her own regrets and sacrifices. It also explains why she was often absent—she was escaping a marriage she never chose.
The chapter also marks a turning point in Maddie's mental health journey. Angelina's diagnosis of depression is the first time Maddie's struggles are named, and her panic attack forces her to acknowledge that she cannot simply “carry on.” Maddie's admission to her mother that she is not fine is a breakthrough, breaking the family's code of silence.
Finally, the redefinition of “Maame” adds depth to the novel's title, showing that the term carries both love and burden. Maddie's understanding of her mother—and of herself—shifts, setting the stage for her own growth.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Maddie talk to herself, and what does Angelina suggest about this habit?
Maddie talks to herself because her head feels too full, and speaking aloud makes her thoughts clearer. Angelina suggests that Maddie might talk to herself because she is often alone, or because she feels she cannot be open with others. She implies that Maddie may use self-talk as a safe way to express emotions she otherwise bottles up.
- What does Mum's revelation about her arranged marriage reveal about her character and her relationship with Maddie's father?
Mum reveals that she was promised to Maddie's father in exchange for wealth, and that she loved another man, Kwaku. She stayed with her father out of penance, believing his illness was punishment from God. This shows that Mum made sacrifices out of duty and guilt, and that her love for her father was complicated—she loved him “in her own way,” but her heart belonged to Kwaku. It also explains her frequent absences and her emotional distance.
- How does the meaning of “Maame” evolve in this chapter, and what does it signify for Maddie?
Maddie initially dislikes “Maame” because she associates it with being called a woman or adult since childhood, which she feels robbed her of a normal youth. Mum explains that it is a term of endearment her own father used, meaning someone who is needed and grows up fast. This reframes the term as a sign of love and necessity, though Maddie still questions whether she was needed for the wrong reasons. The evolution shows Maddie beginning to understand her mother's perspective and the cultural context behind the name.