Chapter 35: Lisa — 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
Chapter 35, titled “Lisa,” takes place in Toronto, Canada, on Day 245 of the pandemic. The chapter opens with Lisa arriving home at midnight, exhausted from another long day of vaccine research. She notes that the long days of July no longer matter to her because she never sees daylight—she leaves in the dusk and returns in the dark. On the kitchen counter, she finds a glass of red wine and a handwritten note from her partner, Margot, encouraging her to keep going but to sleep first. Lisa leaves the wine untouched, knowing she needs a clear head for the next day’s work, and climbs into bed, curling up against Margot.
Margot, however, is not asleep. She asks Lisa a question that has been on her mind: what will Lisa do once she invents the vaccine? Lisa smiles at Margot’s boundless confidence but admits she has not thought beyond the moment of discovery—only the congratulations and the inevitable Nobel Prize. Margot turns on the bedside light and presses the issue, warning Lisa that she must be careful. She points out that throughout history, many inventors—especially women—have had their work stolen or have failed to receive proper credit. Margot, a professor of Renaissance history, speaks from deep knowledge of how female artists and inventors have been erased. She tells Lisa that the vaccine will be her life’s work and that she must ensure she is remembered for it.
Lisa is unsettled by this conversation. She reflects that she could not bear to become a footnote, and she insists to herself that she will be the one credited—not a nameless, faceless group identified only by nationality. Margot switches off the light, and they pretend to be calm, but Lisa knows it will take her hours to fall asleep. She asks Margot what prompted this line of thinking, and Margot replies that she is a historian who knows how women’s work has been stolen throughout history. The chapter ends with Lisa lying awake, the “grenade of uncertainty” thrown into her imagined future.
Key Events
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Lisa returns home at midnight after a long day of vaccine research.
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Margot has left a supportive note and a glass of wine, but Lisa declines the wine.
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Margot wakes and asks Lisa what she will do after inventing the vaccine.
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Lisa admits she has only thought about the discovery, not the aftermath.
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Margot warns Lisa about historical patterns of women inventors having their work stolen or credit denied.
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Lisa reflects on her fear of being forgotten and her determination to be personally recognized.
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The conversation leaves Lisa unable to sleep, troubled by the uncertainty it introduces.
Character Development
Lisa – This chapter reveals Lisa’s single-minded focus on the scientific breakthrough itself. She has been so consumed by the daily grind of research that she has not considered what happens after success. Her reaction to Margot’s question shows both her ambition and her vulnerability. She wants to be remembered as an individual, not as part of a collective, and she is deeply afraid of being reduced to a footnote. This fear suggests a need for personal legacy that goes beyond the scientific achievement itself.
Margot – Margot is portrayed as both a supportive partner and a pragmatic historian. Her question is not idle curiosity; it is a protective warning. She understands the historical erasure of women’s contributions and wants to shield Lisa from that fate. Her role here is that of a guardian of legacy, using her academic expertise to prepare Lisa for the political and social realities of scientific discovery.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Recognition and Credit – The central theme of this chapter is the struggle for recognition. Margot’s warning about female inventors whose work was stolen directly addresses the historical pattern of women being erased from scientific and artistic achievements. Lisa’s insistence that she will not be a footnote underscores her desire for personal credit, not just for the vaccine but for her own identity as its creator.
Legacy and Memory – Lisa’s fear of being forgotten is tied to her sense of self. She wants to be remembered as “Lisa,” not as “Canadian scientists.” This theme connects to the broader novel’s concern with how individuals are remembered in times of crisis.
Partnership and Support – Margot’s note and her late-night conversation show a partnership built on mutual respect and care. Yet the conversation also introduces tension, as Lisa is not ready to confront the future beyond the lab. The support is real, but it also forces Lisa to face an uncomfortable reality.
Work-Life Imbalance – Lisa’s exhaustion and her admission that she never sees daylight highlight the toll her work has taken on her personal life. The wine left by Margot is a small symbol of normalcy that Lisa sets aside, prioritizing her work even at home.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal because it shifts the narrative from the immediate crisis of the pandemic to the long-term consequences of scientific success. Lisa’s single-minded focus on discovery is challenged by Margot’s historical perspective, forcing Lisa—and the reader—to consider what happens after the vaccine is found. The chapter also deepens the relationship between Lisa and Margot, showing how their different disciplines (science and history) inform their views of the world. Margot’s warning about stolen credit foreshadows potential conflicts later in the novel, as Lisa will have to navigate the politics of recognition in a world desperate for a cure. Additionally, this chapter humanizes Lisa, revealing her vulnerability and her fear of being forgotten, which makes her more relatable and sets up her future decisions.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Margot bring up the topic of credit and recognition at this particular moment?
Margot brings it up because she knows from her historical research that women inventors and artists have often had their work stolen or their contributions minimized. She wants to prepare Lisa for the reality that once the vaccine is discovered, there will be intense competition for credit, and Lisa must be proactive to ensure she is recognized. Margot’s timing—late at night, when Lisa is exhausted—also suggests she has been thinking about this for a while and feels it is urgent to address before Lisa becomes too caught up in the discovery itself.
2. How does Lisa’s reaction to Margot’s question reveal her character?
Lisa’s initial reaction is to deflect, saying she hasn’t thought about it. This shows her intense focus on the present work and her avoidance of long-term planning. However, her internal reflection reveals a deep-seated fear of being forgotten and a strong desire for personal recognition. She is not content to be part of a collective; she wants to be the named inventor. This ambition is both admirable and potentially problematic, as it may lead to conflicts later.
3. What does the chapter suggest about the relationship between scientific discovery and historical memory?
The chapter suggests that scientific discovery is not just a technical achievement but also a social and historical event. Margot’s warning implies that the credit for a discovery is not automatically given to the person who did the work; it must be actively claimed and protected. The chapter also hints that history has often erased women’s contributions, so Lisa must be vigilant. This theme connects to the novel’s broader exploration of how the pandemic will be remembered and who will be credited with saving humanity.
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