Mad Mabel – Chapter 72 (Chapter 71) Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This summary and analysis contains detailed plot information from Chapter 72 (labeled Chapter 71 in the book) of Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. If you have not read this chapter yet, proceed with caution.
Summary
In a flashback set “THEN,” the narrator (Mabel) describes the moments after she killed her father. First, she covers Cess in a blue silk bathrobe because the thought of the police finding her naked is unbearable. She carefully positions Cess’s head on a pillow and smooths her hair, acknowledging that tampering with the body later looks bad in court but that she never regrets showing that dignity. Her father is left lying in a pool of his own blood.
Mabel then goes to find Daphne to say goodbye. She knows what will happen to her—arrest, likely punishment—but Daphne refuses to accept the farewell and wants to fight. Mabel tries to smile and reassures Daphne, “Don’t forget: I’m Mad Mabel,” but Daphne responds that she hates that name and that Mabel will always be “Maybelline” to her. They hug, Mabel goes outside, and Daphne waves from the window. As Mabel waves back, she recalls a night at the hospital when she tried to conjure Katie Maurice in the window, just like Anne in Anne of Green Gables. A few days later, Daphne appeared—a mirage, an answered prayer—just as she did when Mabel was in kindergarten and desperately needed a friend.
Key Events
- Mabel confirms her father is dead.
- She covers Cess in a blue silk bathrobe and arranges her head on a pillow.
- She leaves her father in a pool of blood.
- Mabel goes to Daphne to say goodbye.
- Daphne refuses to accept the goodbye and calls her “Maybelline.”
- They hug; Mabel leaves and waves from outside.
- Mabel reflects on Daphne’s first appearance as a friend in kindergarten, linking it to the window scene from Anne of Green Gables.
Character Development
Mabel – In this flashback, Mabel shows a strong sense of compassion and dignity, even in the aftermath of a violent act. Her careful treatment of Cess’s body demonstrates her love and respect. At the same time, she accepts her fate without struggle, suggesting a weariness from years of fighting. Her attempt to be brave for Daphne and her reflection on their childhood friendship reveal a softer, vulnerable side beneath the “Mad Mabel” persona.
Daphne – Daphne’s immediate refusal to let Mabel go shows her fierce loyalty. Her rejection of the nickname “Mad Mabel” and her insistence on “Maybelline” highlights that she sees Mabel not as the infamous figure but as the person she has always known.
Cess – Though she does not speak in this chapter, Cess is characterized through Mabel’s actions: Mabel’s care implies a deep bond, possibly a mother or mother figure.
Mabel’s father – Mentioned only as a victim; his death is the catalyst for the chapter’s events.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Sacrifice and dignity – Mabel chooses to honor Cess in death even at the cost of incriminating herself. The act of arranging her body is a final act of love.
Identity – The contrast between “Mad Mabel” (the public, feared label) and “Maybelline” (the private, true self) is central. Daphne insists on the latter, and Mabel’s memory of their first meeting reinforces that her real identity is rooted in friendship, not notoriety.
Mirrors and windows – The reference to Anne of Green Gables and the window where Mabel imagined Katie Maurice and then saw Daphne connects the present goodbye to a pattern of longing and answered wishes. The window becomes a symbol of hope and connection.
Memory as solace – As Mabel faces an uncertain future, she clings to the memory of Daphne’s magical appearance in her life, providing emotional comfort.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 72 provides the emotional climax of Mabel’s backstory, showing her humanity in the moments after her father’s death. It humanizes the person known as “Mad Mabel” by revealing her acts of care and her deep bond with Daphne. The chapter also closes the flashback arc, setting up the consequences that will follow in the present timeline. It answers why Daphne is so important to Mabel and why Mabel accepts her fate without resistance.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Mabel tamper with Cess’s body even though she knows it will look bad in court? Mabel acts out of love and respect. She cannot bear the thought of the police finding Cess naked and vulnerable. The act of covering her and positioning her head on a pillow is a final gesture of dignity and care that matters more to Mabel than the legal consequences.
2. What does Daphne’s use of the name “Maybelline” reveal about their relationship? It shows that Daphne sees Mabel as her original, true self, not as the public figure “Mad Mabel.” The nickname is intimate and affectionate, indicating a friendship that predates and transcends the events that made Mabel infamous. Daphne refuses to let the label define her friend.
3. How does the reference to Anne of Green Gables and Katie Maurice deepen Mabel’s reflection at the end of the chapter? In Anne of Green Gables, Anne imagines a reflection in a window as a friend named Katie Maurice. Mabel recalls a hospital night when she tried to conjure such a friend, and soon after Daphne appeared—first in her imagination and then in reality. The parallel suggests that Daphne has always been the friend Mabel longed for, almost as if by magic. The wave through the window echoes that first meeting, making the goodbye both full circle and heartbreaking.