Chapter 46: The Toronto Star, 1935 – 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 46 presents a fictional newspaper article from The Toronto Star, dated August 28, 1935. The article reports that fifteen‑year‑old society schoolgirl Laura Chase, missing for over a week, has been found safely at the Muskoka summer residence of family friends Mr. and Mrs. E. Newton‑Dobbs. Industrialist Richard E. Griffen, Laura’s brother‑in‑law, speaks to reporters, calling the incident “a simple confusion” caused by a delayed letter. He denies rumours that Laura ran away and was located at Sunnyside Beach Amusement Park, threatening to investigate the source of those “malicious fabrications.” The article notes that Laura is refusing interviews and that the public deserves a reliable postal service. The newspaper’s tone implicitly endorses Griffen’s version of events while hinting at an alternative story.
Key Events
- Laura Chase has been missing for over a week.
- Police call off the search after she is found with the Newton‑Dobbs family in Muskoka.
- Richard Griffen issues a public statement attributing the episode to a postal delay.
- Griffen denies runaway rumours and promises to find who spread them.
- Laura is described as unsettled by the publicity and declines interviews.
- The article editorialises about the need for dependable mail delivery.
Character Development
- Laura Chase: Although absent from the article’s direct speech, her refusal to give interviews suggests distress or a desire for privacy. The discrepancy between the official story and the rumours hints at a more complex inner life and possible agency in her own disappearance.
- Richard E. Griffen: He positions himself as the family spokesman, controlling the narrative. His threat to investigate the “fabrications” shows a willingness to suppress alternative accounts. The smooth, authoritative tone reveals a man accustomed to managing public perception.
- Iris Griffen (Laura’s sister, not named in this article but known from earlier chapters): She is mentioned only as “my wife” in Richard’s statement, remaining voiceless in the press—a pattern consistent with her limited public role.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Media as a tool of control: The newspaper article is a primary source that shapes how the “missing girl” story reaches the public. Richard Griffen uses it to replace a scandalous narrative (runaway) with a mundane one (postal mix‑up).
- Reputation and class: The phrase “society schoolgirl” and the reference to the Newton‑Dobbs’ summer residence underscore the family’s social standing. The article’s editorial on postal service deflects attention from any class‑related embarrassments.
- Truth and fabrication: The article juxtaposes the official story with the “malicious fabrications,” inviting readers to question which version is accurate. This motif recurs throughout the larger narrative as characters struggle with memory and evidence.
- The delayed letter: A symbol of missed communication and the failure of institutions. The postal service becomes a convenient scapegoat, allowing the family to avoid addressing the possibility that Laura intentionally left.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 46 provides a crucial alternate perspective on Laura Chase’s disappearance, earlier covered from the viewpoint of Iris and other characters. The newspaper article exposes the gap between public record and private reality. It establishes Richard Griffen’s role as a gatekeeper of family history and foreshadows his ability to shape the story of Laura’s later fate. For readers, this chapter is a reminder to treat all sources—especially official ones—with suspicion. The postal service complaint also touches on Atwood’s broader interest in communication, failure, and the stories we tell ourselves.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Richard Griffen refer to the rumours about Sunnyside Beach as “malicious fabrications”? What does this reveal about his character?
He needs to discredit any narrative that suggests Laura ran away, because that would imply family dysfunction or his own failure to protect her. By labelling the rumours malicious and promising to investigate, he demonstrates a controlling, combative personality that prioritizes reputation over truth.
2. How does the newspaper article itself shape the reader’s understanding of the event?
The article presents Griffen’s statement without independent verification, and the closing editorial paragraph shifts focus from Laura’s well‑being to a complaint about postal service. This structuring leads readers to accept the official version and dismiss the alternative story as rumour.
3. In what way might Laura’s refusal of interviews be significant for later plot developments?
Laura’s silence keeps her perspective hidden, allowing Richard and others to speak for her. This pattern suggests that Laura may have truths she cannot or will not share publicly, and that her own voice will be suppressed for much of the novel until later revelations.