Chapter summaries The Boyfriend Freida McFadden

Chapter 68: The Teacher – Summary 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 the narrator—the teacher—digging a grave in the woods after dark. Every muscle aches, and blisters cover her palms. The temperature has dropped below freezing, yet she works without a coat because of the exertion. She reflects that the first layer of dirt was easier to break through when she had a partner. Now she works alone with only the body for company.

She estimates the hole is just over two feet deep and wonders how deep a body must be buried to keep animals from smelling it. As she continues digging, she must climb into the grave. While inside, she hears a cracking sound and fears someone has discovered her. She calls out but receives no answer. Another crack and the sound of leaves crunching make her imagine handcuffs and a life sentence. Then a squirrel darts past, snapping a twig. Relieved, she realizes it was only an animal. She resumes digging, knowing she must bury the body before sunrise.

Key Events

The teacher digs a grave alone in the freezing woods, experiencing extreme physical pain.
She recalls that she had a partner during an earlier burial, suggesting a previous murder.
She worries about the depth needed to prevent animals from digging up the body.
She hears a branch snap and fears discovery, but it turns out to be a squirrel.
The chapter ends with her determination to finish the burial before dawn.

Character Development

The Teacher (narrator): This chapter confirms she is the killer, burying a body. Her exhaustion and fear humanize her, yet her calm planning reveals a calculating nature. The memory of a partner hints at a deeper conspiracy or past crimes. Her relief at the squirrel's appearance shows her desperation to avoid capture.
The Partner (unidentified): Mentioned only in passing, this person assisted in a previous burial. Their identity remains unknown, but their existence implies the teacher did not act alone in all her crimes.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Burial as Concealment: The physical act of digging symbolizes the attempt to hide the truth. The teacher's struggle with the frozen ground mirrors the difficulty of keeping her crimes secret.
Isolation and Guilt: Working alone in the dark, cold woods, the teacher experiences both physical and moral isolation. Her aching muscles and blisters represent the weight of her guilt.
Fear of Discovery: Every sound in the woods triggers panic. The squirrel's appearance briefly alleviates her fear, yet the threat remains. This motif underscores the constant tension of living with a secret.
The Grave as Fate: Standing inside the grave feels like tempting fate, reminding readers that everyone ends up in the ground. The teacher's defiance of that fate—digging a grave for someone else—highlights her moral corruption.

Why This Chapter Matters

This final chapter delivers the long-awaited reveal of the killer's identity. By placing the reader inside the teacher's mind during the burial, Freida McFadden creates an intimate and chilling conclusion. The chapter confirms earlier suspicions and shows the physical and emotional toll of murder. It also leaves unanswered questions—such as who the partner is and whether the teacher will be caught—allowing readers to reflect on the story's open threads. The setting reinforces the theme of hidden violence beneath everyday life.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does the teacher think about her partner during the digging?
She remembers that she had help when burying the first body, suggesting a pattern of collaboration. The partner's absence now emphasizes her isolation and the increased difficulty of the task.

2. What role does the squirrel play in this chapter?
The squirrel creates a moment of false alarm. Its appearance heightens the tension and then provides relief, but also reminds the reader that the teacher's fear of being caught will never truly disappear.

3. How does the chapter's setting contribute to the mood?
The freezing darkness of the woods, the physical pain of digging, and the silence broken only by animal sounds create a claustrophobic and desperate atmosphere that mirrors the teacher's guilt and exhaustion.