Chapter 22 Summary: Argument Interrupted — Key Events 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 with Margaret and Walt driving home from a party, where Walt made a dismissive comment about Margaret's writing, calling it a “jobette.” Margaret, who has been working hard on her column, is deeply hurt and confronts him. Walt insists it was only a joke, but the argument escalates into a bitter exchange about respect and gratitude. As they sit in the driveway, their daughter Beth knocks on the car window and tells them to come inside—her grandmother is on the phone from Ohio.

The call brings news that Walt's father, Jerry, has collapsed while mowing the lawn and is hospitalized after a suspected stroke. Walt's mother, Bernice, is frantic and asks him to come immediately. The argument is instantly forgotten. Walt decides to drive alone through the night to Ohio, while Margaret packs his bag and prepares sandwiches and coffee. Before he leaves, he tries to apologize for his earlier comment, but Margaret tells him it's not important now. They exchange “I love you”s.

Walt calls from the hospital to say Jerry hasn't regained consciousness. Two days later, Jerry dies. Walt and Margaret decide that she and the children should stay home, as the funeral would be too distressing for them. Walt remains in Ohio to help his mother, who is overwhelmed, and to deal with his sisters' squabbling. Margaret feels guilty for not being there but agrees it's best.

At home, Margaret struggles to balance her writing deadlines with caring for three children. She begins waking at 4:30 a.m. to write before the kids wake up. She discusses with her friend Viv the limitations of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, noting that it only addresses women with choices, not those who work out of necessity. Viv's perspective helps Margaret feel less entitled to complain. She finally completes a column about diet gelatin that pleases her editor, Mr. Clement.

Walt returns home after a week, but he may need to go back to Ohio to help his mother. That night, Margaret has a recurring nightmare about finding her mother's body after her suicide. In the dream, she walks through her childhood home, which is unnaturally clean, and finds a refrigerator stocked with prepared meals—a sign her mother had planned her death. She wakes up sobbing, and Walt comforts her, holding her like a child. He apologizes again for his comment at the party, but Margaret stops him, saying not now. They reconcile physically, and Margaret reflects on how much she missed him.

Key Events

Margaret and Walt argue in the car over his dismissive comment about her writing.
Beth interrupts the argument to deliver news of Jerry's stroke.
Walt drives alone to Ohio; Jerry dies two days later without regaining consciousness.
Margaret begins waking at 4:30 a.m. to write her column.
Viv critiques Betty Friedan's book for ignoring women without choices.
Margaret completes a diet gelatin column that pleases her editor.
Walt returns home after a week, but may need to go back to Ohio.
Margaret has a nightmare about finding her mother's body; Walt comforts her and they reconcile.

Character Development

Margaret shows resilience and a growing sense of responsibility. She swallows her anger at the party to avoid a public scene, but later confronts Walt honestly. Her decision to wake early to write demonstrates her commitment to her career, even as she feels guilty about not being more present for her children. The nightmare reveals her deep-seated trauma from her mother's suicide and the guilt she has carried since she was seventeen. Her reconciliation with Walt shows her ability to set aside conflict when it matters, but also her need for emotional and physical connection.

Walt is initially dismissive and defensive, but the crisis with his father forces him to prioritize family. He drives through the night to be with his dying father, and later stays to help his mother. His apology to Margaret, though interrupted, shows he has reflected on his behavior. His comfort during Margaret's nightmare reveals a tender, protective side.

Beth acts as a catalyst, interrupting the argument and delivering the news. Her somber expression suggests she understands more than her parents realize.

Viv provides a broader perspective on women's work and choice, challenging Margaret to see her own privileges.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Marital conflict and reconciliation: The argument over Margaret's writing highlights the tension between her domestic role and her professional identity. The crisis with Jerry forces them to set aside their differences, and their eventual reconciliation suggests that love can survive conflict.
Grief and numbness: Walt's detachment after his father's death, and Margaret's guilt about not being there, reflect the complicated emotions of loss.
Women's work and choice: Viv's critique of Betty Friedan emphasizes that the feminist conversation often excludes women who work out of necessity. Margaret's early morning writing routine symbolizes her determination to claim time for her own work.
The clean kitchen as a symbol: In Margaret's nightmare, the spotless kitchen and prepared meals represent her mother's final act of care—a farewell that Margaret interprets as a sign of her own failure to prevent the suicide. The recurring dream underscores her unresolved guilt.
Prepared meals as farewell: The refrigerator stocked with labeled containers echoes the idea of making sure loved ones are taken care of before leaving, a motif that ties to Margaret's own promise-keeping.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder: Margaret's realization that she misses Walt, and his nightly phone calls, suggest that distance can strengthen a relationship.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens Margaret's character by revealing the trauma that shapes her need to keep promises and care for others. It also advances the theme of women's work and choice, as Margaret navigates her career and family responsibilities. The reconciliation with Walt sets the stage for their relationship to evolve, while the lingering nightmare hints at unresolved issues that may surface later. The chapter also shows how a family crisis can refocus priorities and bring people together.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Margaret's reaction to Walt's comment about her writing reflect her internal conflict?

Margaret's anger stems from her feeling that her work is not taken seriously. She works hard on her columns, but Walt's dismissive “jobette” comment makes her feel that her efforts are trivialized. This conflict mirrors her broader struggle to balance her identity as a mother and wife with her desire for professional recognition.

2. What does Viv's critique of Betty Friedan reveal about the limitations of the feminist movement at the time?

Viv points out that Friedan's book speaks mainly to educated, middle-class women who have the choice to stay home. Women who work out of necessity—widows, divorcées, or those with husbands who don't earn enough—are left out of the conversation. This critique highlights the need for a more inclusive feminism that addresses economic realities.

3. Why does Margaret's nightmare recur, and what does it symbolize?

The nightmare is rooted in Margaret's guilt over her mother's suicide. As a seventeen-year-old, she promised her father she would keep an eye on her mother, but she failed to prevent the death. The clean kitchen and prepared meals in the dream symbolize her mother's final act of care, which Margaret interprets as a sign that she should have noticed something was wrong. The recurring dream reflects her unresolved trauma and her fear of failing to protect those she loves.