Chapter summaries Remarkably Bright Creatures Shelby Van Pelt

Chapter 23: The Technically True Story Summary and Analysis

Spoiler Notice: This summary and analysis contains details from Chapter 23 of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. If you have not yet read the book, proceed with caution.

Complete Chronological Summary

The chapter opens with Tova cleaning the rust off her key and returning it to her keyring, tossing the old spare into a junk drawer. She is having coffee when Cat, the neighbor’s cat, slips through a loose flap in her screen door. Tova decides not to repair the screen, thinking "Let the creatures have their gaps."

At the aquarium, Tova checks Marcellus in the pump room. She climbs a step stool to greet him and shares a moment of connection: Marcellus wraps a tentacle around her wrist. Tova tells him about the birthmark on her forearm that her son Erik used to call her "Mickey Mouse mole." She then reveals the story of Erik’s death at age eighteen: he drowned alone in Puget Sound; the anchor line was cut; his body was never recovered. She describes the argument they had the day he died, when he and his friends knocked over a Dala horse given to her by her mother. Tova had insisted Erik take a summer job at the ticket booth. While speaking, she reaches to clean the tank rim, the stool wobbles, and she falls, twisting her ankle.

After the fall, Marcellus somehow squeezes out of the tank, retrieves a missing screw from under a cabinet, and deposits it at her foot. Tova repairs the stool. The next morning, her ankle is swollen and purple. She calls Dr. Remy’s office and omits that the fall happened at work while talking to an octopus; she says she fell from a stool while cleaning, which is technically true. She then calls her boss Terry to say she cannot come in—the first time she has called out of work in her life.

Key Events

  • Tova cleans the key and decides not to fix the screen door gap.
  • Tova shares a long, emotional conversation with Marcellus about Erik’s death and the argument over the Dala horse.
  • Tova falls from a step stool, injuring her ankle.
  • Marcellus escapes the tank, finds a missing screw, and returns it to Tova.
  • Tova tells a “technically true” story to Dr. Remy’s receptionist and to Terry to avoid revealing the full circumstances of her injury.
  • Tova calls out of work for the first time.

Character Development

  • Tova Sullivan: This chapter reveals the depth of her grief over Erik’s death and the unresolved guilt she carries. She admits that the argument about the Dala horse and the summer job still haunts her. Her decision to omit the truth in her phone calls shows a rare moment of self-protection, a departure from her usual honesty. Her injury forces her to relinquish control for the first time.
  • Marcellus: The octopus demonstrates advanced problem-solving and empathy by retrieving the screw. He shows that he understands Tova’s need and is willing to help, reinforcing the unique bond between them.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The “Technically True” Story: The chapter’s title refers to Tova’s careful omission of the truth when she explains her injury. This motif explores the line between honesty and self-preservation, and how grief can lead to selective storytelling.
  • Grief and Unresolved Loss: Tova’s recollection of Erik’s death, the Dala horse, and the cut anchor line emphasizes that she has never fully processed her son’s disappearance. The suspicion that Erik may have taken his own life adds a layer of painful uncertainty.
  • Animal-Human Connection: Marcellus’s intelligent response to Tova’s fall deepens the theme of interspecies understanding, suggesting that creatures can offer comfort and practical help that humans cannot.
  • The Dala Horse: This symbol of Tova’s Swedish heritage and maternal love is shattered by Erik’s carelessness, representing the fragile bonds of family and the lasting consequences of a single argument.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point. It delivers the most detailed account yet of Erik’s death and Tova’s guilt, while also showcasing Marcellus’s remarkable intelligence and his active role in Tova’s life. The injury forces Tova to step away from her routine for the first time, setting the stage for consequences in the coming chapters. The title’s “technically true” concept also introduces a subtle moral dilemma that will likely resurface as Tova’s secrets grow.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Tova phrase her fall as “technically true” rather than telling the full story? She is embarrassed that she was talking to an octopus while cleaning and afraid her injury might be seen as a sign of incompetence or age, which could cost her the job. It is also a way to protect her private bond with Marcellus.

  2. What does Marcellus’s action of retrieving the screw reveal about his character? It shows he understands cause and effect, can problem-solve, and feels a connection to Tova. He recognizes she needs help and takes the initiative to provide it, demonstrating empathy and intelligence.

  3. How does the memory of the Dala horse shed light on Tova’s guilt? The Dala horse was a fragile heirloom from Tova’s mother, and Erik broke it accidentally. Tova’s anger over that incident, combined with her insistence that he get a summer job, led to the argument on the day he died. She believes that if she had not been so strict, Erik might still be alive.

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