Chapter 6 Summary: Elliot and Kate's Tense Flight
⚠️ 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
Elliot spots Kate at Gatwick Airport early in the morning. She tries to avoid him, but he calls out loudly, forcing her to acknowledge him. They check in together and board the flight to Mykonos. Kate claims a headache and refuses to rehearse her lines, so Elliot produces miniature vodka bottles he smuggled on board. Over drinks, Elliot mentions a rumor that Kate and her director Gordon aren't getting along; Kate angrily denies it and drinks more. Elliot tells a long, comic anecdote about a vengeful divorce, but Kate remains stony and unamused. Elliot reflects on how he met Kate years earlier through Barbara West’s parties and describes their complicated dynamic: Kate presented herself as an outsider like Elliot, but he was ashamed of his past while she was unashamed. He contrasts Kate's arch, sarcastic humor with Lana's direct sincerity. Elliot admits he was afraid of Kate and hints that his fear was justified. They land at Mykonos, take a water taxi, and watch the island Aura appear on the horizon.
Key Events
- Elliot spots Kate at Gatwick and forces her to sit with him on the plane.
- On the flight, Elliot pours vodka for both of them and brings up a rumor about friction between Kate and Gordon.
- Kate drinks heavily and shows visible hostility toward Elliot.
- Elliot recounts a story about a mutual friend's ugly divorce, but Kate does not laugh.
- Elliot provides backstory on meeting Kate through Barbara West's parties and their subsequent relationship.
- He contrasts Kate's personality with Lana's, noting that Lana's seriousness came between them.
- Elliot admits he was afraid of Kate and suggests that fear was well-founded.
- They arrive in Mykonos and take a water taxi to the island Aura, which looks ominous at dusk.
Character Development
Elliot reveals his manipulative side by engineering the seating arrangement and plying Kate with alcohol. He admits his social insecurity: he wants to shed his past and fit in, whereas Kate is comfortable being an impostor. His fear of Kate shows vulnerability and hints at future danger.
Kate is presented as hostile and defensive. She tries to avoid Elliot, drinks to cope, and reacts angrily to the rumor about Gordon. Her earlier camaraderie with Elliot (through Barbara West's parties) has turned into suspicion and competition for Lana's attention.
Lana is discussed only in contrast—sincere and straightforward, unlike the ironic Kate. Elliot implies that Lana's closeness to him alienated Kate.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Impostor syndrome: Both Elliot and Kate feel like outsiders, but Elliot is ashamed of his past while Kate is not. He tries to adopt a role, while she openly mocks the pretense.
- Performance and authenticity: Kate is an actress who hides her true feelings behind a smile; Elliot performs wit and charm while reading her real thoughts. The chapter questions whether anyone is authentic.
- Alcohol as anesthetic: Elliot uses alcohol to smooth over tension and lower defenses, a motif that recurs in his narration.
- Foreshadowing of danger: Elliot’s admission that he feared Kate and that his fear was justified adds a menacing tone, building suspense for the weekend on Aura.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the reader's understanding of the volatile dynamic between Elliot and Kate. It provides essential backstory on their long acquaintance and the jealousy that arose over Lana. The tension on the flight sets the stage for the island gathering, and Elliot's fear of Kate hints at a significant conflict to come. The arrival at Aura, described as ominous, reinforces the foreboding atmosphere.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Elliot force Kate to sit with him on the plane, and what does this reveal about his character?
Elliot forces the seating arrangement by calling out Kate's name loudly and insisting they check in together. This shows his need for control and his willingness to manipulate social situations to his advantage, even at the cost of making Kate uncomfortable.
2. How does Elliot contrast Kate and Lana in this chapter?
Elliot describes Kate as arch, sarcastic, and always looking for a laugh, while Lana is serious, direct, and sincere. He suggests that Lana's honesty created a barrier between him and Kate, because Kate viewed Elliot as a rival for Lana's attention.
3. What does Elliot mean when he says he was “afraid of Kate” and that he “had good reason to be”?
Elliot admits that Kate's unpredictable, bad-tempered nature frightened him. The statement that his fear was justified implies that Kate later did something harmful, a hint of foreshadowing about the events on the island.