Chapter 45: Roz's Father's Secret & Zenia's Return
⚠️ 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
A long time after her parents' deaths, Roz visits her dying Uncle George in a hospital ward. He reveals that her father—along with his brothers—was a crook during World War II. They stole valuables from people trying to smuggle them out, but also bribed guards to rescue Jews. Roz learns her father was both a hero and a fixer; his fortune originated from this morally ambiguous wartime activity. Roz feels haunted by the dirty money, though she never tells her husband Mitch. She reflects on her involvement with the feminist magazine Wise Woman World, which she saved by buying a majority stake and putting Mitch on the board to prevent his sabotage. Roz recalls Mitch's past inappropriate behavior toward staff and her friends' advice to leave him. Now Zenia has reappeared, and Roz invites her for a drink, hoping to learn more about her father. Tony warns her to watch her back, but Roz's pride and curiosity lead her forward.
Key Events
- Roz visits Uncle George in the hospital and asks about her father's wartime activities.
- Uncle George explains that Roz's father was a fixer—a crook who stole valuables but also helped smuggle Jews out.
- Roz grapples with the knowledge that her wealth is tainted by this history.
- She never shares this secret with Mitch, who already looks down on her money.
- Roz recounts her role in rescuing Wise Woman World from financial ruin by taking control and placing Mitch on the board.
- She remembers an incident where Mitch sexually harassed Alma at a dinner party; Roz later got Alma a raise.
- Roz decides to invite Zenia over, despite Tony's caution about Zenia's manipulative nature.
- Roz acknowledges her pride as the motivating force—she believes she can handle Zenia where her friends failed.
Character Development
- Roz: Learns a devastating truth about her father's past, which forces her to confront the moral ambiguity of her fortune. She also shows insight into her marriage, recognizing her pride and her reluctance to leave Mitch despite his flaws.
- Uncle George: Delivers the revelation about his brother's criminal wartime activities, speaking from a place of exhaustion and candor near death.
- Mitch: Remains a distant, patronizing figure who resents Roz's friends and her success, yet is willing to spend her money.
- Tony: Appears briefly as a cautious friend who warns Roz about Zenia's return, highlighting the group's shared history.
- Zenia: Though not directly present in the chapter, her looming invitation sets up a major plot conflict.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Dirty Money: The source of Roz's wealth is explicitly tied to wartime theft and exploitation, raising questions about whether any money can be clean.
- Moral Ambiguity: Roz's father is both a crook and a hero; the line between good and evil is blurred by the context of war.
- Feminism and Class: Roz's wealth distances her from other women in the movement, who assume money insulates her from pain. Yet she uses her resources to save a feminist magazine, albeit on controlling terms.
- Pride as a Deadly Sin: Roz's pride—in her ability to manage Mitch, handle her father's legacy, and confront Zenia—is identified as the true cause of her upcoming troubles.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter provides crucial backstory for Roz, revealing the origin of her fortune and deepening her internal conflict about her identity and marriage. It also sets in motion Zenia's return, which will drive the central plot of the novel. The revelations about Roz's father complicate the reader's understanding of heroism and morality, framing the entire story within a larger critique of war profiteering and inherited guilt.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Roz feel guilty about her money after speaking with Uncle George?
She learns that her father obtained the original wealth through illegal wartime activities—stealing from people in desperate situations. She feels haunted by the idea of ghostly hands reaching up from the dead, demanding what was taken.
2. How does Roz's relationship with Mitch reflect the theme of power in the chapter?
Roz must constantly diminish herself and manage Mitch's ego to keep peace. Though she is financially independent and powerful, Mitch's disapproval of her friends and his past harassment of her colleagues show that she still has to navigate patriarchal control in her home.
3. What does Roz admit was the real reason she invited Zenia over?
She admits it was pride: she thought she could succeed where her friends Charis and Tony had failed. She also wanted to feel proud of her father and learn more about his war record, despite knowing the risks.