Chapter 37 (Chapter 36) Summary and Analysis: The Housemaid Is Watching
⚠️ 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 Accardi family heads to a private, elite beach after Suzette reluctantly allows them to tag along. Enzo drives aggressively, speeding well above the limit despite Millie’s pleas. Their children, Nico and Ada, enjoy the thrill, but Millie worries. As they leave the expressway, a police officer pulls them over. Enzo puts on a thick Italian accent and claims he was speeding because his gas gauge was nearly empty and he needed to find a station. The officer lets him off with a warning. Enzo boasts that lying is “too easy.” Millie reflects that she has always known her husband is an excellent liar, but his dishonesty now bothers her because she suspects he is hiding something from her.
Key Events
- Suzette permits the family to join the beach trip, likely reluctantly.
- Enzo drives well over the speed limit; Millie asks him to slow down.
- Nico teases Millie for driving too slowly, implying she often gets honked at.
- A police officer pulls over the car as they take an off-ramp.
- Enzo fumbles for his license; Ada fears arrest; Nico thinks it would be “cool.”
- Enzo charms the officer with a thick accent and a false story about running out of gas.
- The officer issues only a warning and lets them go.
- Enzo winks at Millie, saying “Is too easy,” confirming he lied intentionally.
- Millie realizes his skilled lying now disturbs her because she suspects he is hiding something.
Character Development
- Millie Accardi: Her internal monologue shows growing distrust. Once unbothered by Enzo’s lies, she now sees them as evidence of concealment. This marks a shift from acceptance to suspicion.
- Enzo Accardi: Demonstrates his effortless charm and manipulation. He uses an exaggerated accent and a fabricated excuse to escape consequences. The chapter reinforces his untrustworthiness.
- Nico and Ada: React in ways that highlight family dynamics. Nico finds the idea of arrest “cool”; Ada is anxious. Their responses underscore the tension beneath family outings.
- Suzette (offstage): Although not present in the scene, her reluctant permission foreshadows underlying conflict in the household.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Deception and Trust: Enzo’s lie to the police is trivial, but Millie’s reaction reveals a deeper breach of trust. The chapter asks how small dishonesties erode a relationship.
- Speed and Control: Enzo’s reckless driving symbolises his need for control and his disregard for rules. Millie’s plea to slow down mirrors her desire for stability.
- Class and Entitlement: The private beach requiring a special card sets a backdrop of privilege. Enzo’s ability to talk his way out of a ticket suggests entitlement within elite social circles.
- Performance: Enzo puts on an act for the officer (fake accent, exaggerated ignorance). Millie observes the performance, connecting it to whatever he might be hiding from her.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 36 crystallises Millie’s growing suspicion. The seemingly minor event of a traffic stop becomes a metaphor for the larger secrets Enzo may be keeping. It deepens the psychological tension, showing that Millie is now actively analysing her husband’s behaviour for signs of deception. This chapter is a turning point in their relationship, setting the stage for future revelations.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Enzo’s interaction with the police officer reveal his character?
Enzo uses charm, a fake accent, and a fabricated excuse to avoid a ticket. This shows he is a skilled liar who can manipulate authority figures with ease. Millie notes that he never gets tickets, highlighting a pattern of dishonesty that she once accepted but now questions.
2. What does Millie’s reaction to Enzo’s lie say about her current state of mind?
Millie is no longer amused by Enzo’s deceit. She connects his ability to lie convincingly to her suspicion that he is hiding something important from her. Her internal reflection signals growing paranoia and loss of trust, key elements of the thriller genre.
3. Why is the setting of a private beach significant in this chapter?
The exclusive beach, accessible only by special card, underscores the social divide between Suzette’s elite world and the Accardi family. It reinforces themes of privilege and secrecy, hinting that hidden rules and gatekeeping may mirror the hidden truths Enzo is keeping from Millie.