Chapter 37 Summary – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
⚠️ 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
Evelyn and Harry marry in a ceremony that masks the true relationships among the four of them: Harry is in love with John, and Evelyn is in love with Celia. Celia struggles with jealousy despite knowing the marriage is fake. After the wedding, Evelyn sells her Beverly Hills mansion and buys an apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side, near Celia and John. She learns that her father died in 1959 of a heart attack, feeling both relief and sadness that he only ever wanted her money. Settling into New York, Evelyn walks with Celia past her childhood tenement and briefly holds her hand in public, surprised that no one reacts.
The chapter then moves to the aftermath of the 1969 Stonewall riots. The four friends watch coverage and debate whether to join the protests. Celia wants to go, but Harry argues that they would distract from the cause; instead, they decide to use their wealth to fund LGBTQ+ activism. Evelyn, on her terrace, cries as she realizes others are fighting for a freedom she has never dared to envision. John is described as the gentle heart of the group.
The narrative jumps to 1970, when Celia wins her second Academy Award for the film Our Men, in which she plays a woman who cross‑dresses to fight in World War I. Evelyn is unable to attend because she is filming Jade Diamond in Miami. During a congratulatory phone call, Celia, drunk and resentful, accuses Evelyn of being a lesbian and then, after Evelyn resists the label, insults her with a crude remark about her body. Celia immediately apologizes, but Evelyn hangs up, recognizing a painful pattern in their relationship.
Key Events
- Evelyn and Harry marry, with Celia, Harry, John, and Evelyn all acting as beards.
- Evelyn sells her Beverly Hills mansion and buys an Upper East Side apartment near Celia and John.
- She discovers her father has died; she feels he would have only contacted her for money.
- Evelyn and Celia take a taxi to Hell’s Kitchen and hold hands on the sidewalk without incident.
- The four friends decide to fund LGBTQ+ causes privately after the Stonewall riots rather than attend the protests.
- Celia wins her second Oscar in 1970 for Our Men.
- Drunk after the ceremony, Celia and Evelyn have a phone fight about Evelyn’s sexuality and Evelyn hangs up.
Character Development
Evelyn Hugo: This chapter deepens Evelyn’s internal conflict about her identity. She accepts that she loves both men and women, yet she rejects the label “lesbian” as too narrow. Her tears on the rooftop show a growing awareness of the larger LGBTQ+ struggle and her own privilege. She also reveals a pragmatic side, choosing to fund activism rather than risk her career by marching.
Celia St. James: Celia’s jealousy re‑emerges during the wedding and again during their phone call. She sees her own pain more clearly than Evelyn’s, and her harsh words (“a nice pair of tits”) expose a pattern of lashing out when she feels rejected. Celia’s understanding of sexuality is binary—she sees herself only as a lesbian—which leads her to dismiss Evelyn’s bisexuality.
Harry Cameron: Harry demonstrates strategic thinking by steering the group away from public protest and toward financial support. He becomes the architect of their quiet activism.
John Braverman: John is portrayed as the gentlest member of the group. He is physically imposing but emotionally caring, the one who remembers small details and protects his loved ones.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Visibility vs. safety: The chapter contrasts the public defiance of the Stonewall protesters with the private caution of Evelyn’s circle. The characters choose to exercise influence through money rather than presence, highlighting the trade‑offs of fame and closeted life.
Bisexual erasure: Evelyn’s frustration at being called a “lesbian” underscores the invisibility of bisexuality. Celia’s insistence on a binary label—“lesbian when she loved me, straight when she hated me”—reflects real‑world erasure that Evelyn experiences even from her partner.
The golden prison: Evelyn describes her luxurious life as a “golden prison of my own making,” a metaphor for the cage of celebrity and the closet. The rooftop terrace, from which she watches distant protests, physically represents her isolation from the movement.
Stonewall as catalyst: The riots act as a turning point, forcing the characters to confront their own complicity in staying silent. Their decision to fund the cause becomes a lifelong commitment that partially eases Evelyn’s guilt.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks a decisive shift in Evelyn’s political and personal awakening. The Stonewall riots push her beyond self‑interest and into a recognition of communal struggle, while the fight with Celia exposes the fault lines in their relationship that will eventually lead to crisis. It also crystallizes Evelyn’s understanding of her bisexuality, a theme that runs through the rest of the novel. The chapter shows how large historical events—the riots, the civil rights movement—intersect with the private choices of individuals who are forced to hide.
Study Questions & Answers
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Why does Celia call Evelyn a “lesbian” during their phone fight, and why does Evelyn dislike the term?
Celia uses the label in anger, driven by her own binary view of sexuality. Evelyn dislikes it because she knows she is also attracted to men; she feels that Celia is denying the complexity of her identity. The moment reveals Celia’s tendency to flatten Evelyn’s bisexuality. -
What reason do Harry and John give for not attending the Stonewall protests, and how does Evelyn ultimately contribute?
They argue that their presence would turn media attention away from the cause and onto their own celebrity. Instead, the group decides to anonymously fund LGBTQ+ organizations. Evelyn continues this practice for the rest of her life. -
How does Evelyn’s reaction to her father’s death reveal her past trauma?
Her first thought is that his death explains why he never approached her for money, implying that she believed he valued her only as a financial resource. This echoes the emotional neglect she experienced in childhood and reinforces her drive to build a chosen family.