Chapter 35 Summary and Analysis

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Summary

The chapter opens with Jean typing an article about Gretchen Tilbury's extraordinary claim of a virgin birth. The piece recounts how Gretchen, bedbound with rheumatoid arthritis in a nursing home in 1946, conceived her daughter Margaret, and how her mother supported her decision to keep the baby. Jean's work is interrupted by a telephone call from Howard, who says he has news and is waiting outside. She joins him, and they walk to Willett's Wood, a place Jean often uses to escape the office.

As they walk, Howard explains that he must help his Aunt Edie move to a hotel in Maidstone. Aunt Edie has decided to sell her house and give Howard the proceeds, which would allow him to make a financial settlement with Gretchen. Jean reacts with muted enthusiasm, and Howard notices her lack of warmth. He asks what is wrong, and Jean reveals that she visited Gretchen on Wednesday. Gretchen now regrets leaving Howard and wants to return to him, missing Margaret and finding her new marriage to Martha unsatisfying. Howard is visibly distressed by this news.

Jean tells Howard that Gretchen can only be phoned on Wednesdays or Fridays while Martha is at work. When Howard asks what Jean thinks he should do, she refuses to give him an answer. She says she will not give him permission to break her heart, nor will she beg him to stay. She insists that his decision is his own, and that she is not his conscience. Howard apologizes for upsetting her, and they agree to talk again after he has spoken to Gretchen. Jean returns to work, promising herself she will collapse later that evening.

Key Events

Jean is typing an article about Gretchen's virgin birth claim when Howard calls.
Howard and Jean meet and walk through Willett's Wood.
Howard reveals Aunt Edie is moving to a hotel and plans to give him the proceeds from selling her house.
Howard intends to use the money to make a financial settlement with Gretchen.
Jean confesses she visited Gretchen, who wants to return to Howard.
Gretchen misses Margaret and finds her marriage to Martha unsatisfying.
Howard is torn and asks Jean for advice.
Jean refuses to influence his decision, stating she won't give him permission to break her heart or beg him to stay.
They agree to talk after Howard has spoken to Gretchen.

Character Development

Jean demonstrates remarkable self-command and integrity throughout this chapter. She delivers Gretchen's message honestly, even though it is painful, and refuses to twist the information to her own advantage. Her outburst—when she says she will not be his conscience—reveals her frustration and her determination not to manipulate Howard. She chooses to remain passive, letting him make his own choice, even at the cost of her own happiness. This shows her growth from a woman who might have previously avoided confrontation to one who faces difficult truths head-on.

Howard is portrayed as a man caught between duty and desire. He is genuinely distressed by the news of Gretchen's change of heart, and his instinct to do the “right, sober and generous thing” is evident. His retrieval of the discarded cigarette—even in his agitation—shows his conscientiousness and unwillingness to act carelessly. He seeks Jean's opinion, but when she refuses to give it, he is left to grapple with the decision alone, highlighting his vulnerability.

Gretchen is not present in the scene, but her off-page actions drive the plot. Her regret and longing for Margaret reveal her emotional turmoil, and her request for Jean to persuade Howard shows her desperation. She is a complex figure, having left Howard for Martha but now wanting to return, which complicates the moral landscape for everyone involved.

Aunt Edie appears only through Howard's report, but her decision to sell her house and give Howard the money is a pivotal act of generosity. It enables Howard to consider a financial settlement with Gretchen, which in turn forces the central dilemma to the surface. Her choice also reflects themes of aging and independence, as she opts for a hotel rather than staying in an impractical house.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Nature as refuge: The walk through Willett's Wood provides a temporary escape from the pressures of the office and the emotional turmoil of the conversation. The cold, beautiful day, the frost, and the crackling ice create a contrast with the heated emotions between Jean and Howard. The woods symbolize a neutral ground where difficult truths can be spoken, yet they also mirror the isolation and silence that grows between the couple as they walk apart.

Moral dilemma and duty vs. desire: Howard is torn between his obligation to Gretchen and Margaret and his love for Jean. Jean, too, faces a moral choice: she could fight for Howard, but she recognizes that doing so would hurt Margaret. The chapter explores the cost of honesty and the burden of making decisions that affect others.

Self-command and self-sacrifice: Jean's refusal to influence Howard is an act of self-command, but it also borders on self-sacrifice. She suppresses her own desires to allow Howard to choose freely, even if that choice breaks her heart. This motif is reinforced by her internal promise to collapse later, showing the emotional toll of her composure.

Communication breakdown: Despite their physical closeness, Jean and Howard struggle to communicate their true feelings. Jean withholds her own needs, and Howard fails to offer her reassurance. The six-inch gap between their hands becomes an “abyss,” symbolizing the emotional distance that has opened between them.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the novel, bringing the central conflict to a head. Jean's revelation about Gretchen's change of heart forces Howard to confront a choice that will define his future. Jean's refusal to advise him underscores her integrity and sets the stage for the novel's exploration of love, duty, and self-respect. The chapter also deepens our understanding of Jean's character, showing her capacity for honesty and her determination not to manipulate the man she loves. Aunt Edie's decision to sell her house provides the financial means for Howard to potentially reunite with Gretchen, making the dilemma concrete. The walk in the woods, with its natural imagery, serves as a poignant backdrop for the emotional rupture between Jean and Howard, and the chapter ends with a sense of unresolved tension that propels the narrative forward.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Jean refuse to tell Howard what she thinks he should do?

Jean refuses because she does not want to be responsible for his decision. She says she will not give him permission to break her heart, nor will she beg him to stay. She wants Howard to make his own choice, free from her influence, even though she knows it might lead to her own suffering. This reflects her integrity and her unwillingness to manipulate him, even to win his love.

2. What does the walk through Willett's Wood symbolize in this chapter?

The wood represents a refuge from the pressures of everyday life, but it also becomes a space where difficult truths are revealed. The cold, frosty setting mirrors the emotional chill that develops between Jean and Howard as they discuss Gretchen. The gap between their hands—described as an abyss—symbolizes the growing emotional distance between them, despite their physical proximity.

3. How does Aunt Edie's decision to sell her house affect the plot?

Aunt Edie's decision to give Howard the proceeds from the sale enables him to make a financial settlement with Gretchen. This removes a practical obstacle to a potential reconciliation, forcing Howard to confront the emotional and moral implications of his choices. It also highlights themes of family obligation and the ways in which money can complicate personal relationships.

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