Chapter 86 Summary: Now This – July 5, 2000
⚠️ 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 86 is a newspaper article dated July 5, 2000, headlined “Screen Queen Celia St. James Has Died.” It reports that three-time Oscar-winning actress Celia St. James died the previous week at age 61 from complications of emphysema. The article traces her career: born into a well-to-do Georgia family, she was known as the “Georgia Peach,” earned her first Academy Award for the 1959 adaptation of Little Women, and later won Best Actress in 1970 for Our Men and Best Supporting Actress for her 1988 role as Lady Macbeth. It notes her fifteen-year marriage to football hero John Braverman, which ended in divorce in the late 1970s; Braverman died in 1980, and Celia never remarried. The final sentence reveals that Celia’s estate will be managed by her brother, Robert Jamison, who is married to actress—and Celia’s former costar—Evelyn Hugo.
Key Events
- Celia St. James dies of emphysema at age 61.
- The obituary summarizes her three Academy Awards and major film roles.
- It details her marriage to John Braverman and their amicable divorce.
- The article states that Celia’s estate is handled by her brother, Robert Jamison.
- The final line reveals that Robert Jamison is the husband of Evelyn Hugo, linking Celia’s personal life to Evelyn’s.
Character Development
- Celia St. James: Her death solidifies her legacy as a gifted actress. The obituary highlights her talent and her carefully maintained public image as the “girl next door,” contrasting with the hidden complexities of her private life—especially her deep, long‑term relationship with Evelyn Hugo.
- Evelyn Hugo: Though not directly quoted, Evelyn is defined by her marriage to Celia’s brother, Robert Jamison. This arrangement keeps her symbolically close to Celia even after Celia’s death, reinforcing Evelyn’s fierce loyalty and the lengths she goes to protect her love.
- Robert Jamison: Introduced only as Celia’s brother and Evelyn’s husband. His role as estate manager suggests he is trusted by both sisters‑in‑law, acting as the bridge between their public and private worlds.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Mortality and Legacy: Celia’s death forces the reader—and Monique—to reckon with the inevitable end of a life lived under constant public scrutiny. The article serves as the official public record of her achievements, a document that omits the truest parts of her story.
- Hidden Truths: The final sentence is a quiet but explosive disclosure. By positioning Evelyn as the wife of Celia’s brother, the chapter hints at a life‑long connection that the gossip columns never captured. The contrast between what the obituary reports and what the reader knows from Evelyn’s confession underscores the theme of concealed identity.
- Public vs. Private Self: The newspaper format itself becomes a symbol of the sanitized, celebrity‑industry narrative. The real Celia—fiery, loving, and deeply connected to Evelyn—remains invisible in the official record.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 86 is a structural pivot. After many chapters of Evelyn’s intimate, first‑person account, the book abruptly shifts to the cold, objective voice of a newspaper. This change in form mirrors the collision between Evelyn’s private story and the public record. The revelation that Evelyn married Celia’s brother is the final piece of evidence that Evelyn built her entire adult life around preserving her relationship with Celia. It also explains why Evelyn is now compelled to tell the full truth to Monique: with Celia gone, the last reason for secrecy has vanished. This chapter sets the stage for the emotional climax of the novel.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why do you think the author chose to present this information as a newspaper article rather than as part of Evelyn’s narration?
The detached, journalistic tone emphasizes the contrast between public perception and private reality. It forces the reader to experience Celia’s death as a headline, stripping away the emotional intimacy of Evelyn’s voice and highlighting how much of their truth was never told to the world. The form also mirrors Monique’s own profession as a journalist, reminding us that the story she is hearing will one day become an article—or a book.
2. What does the detail about Evelyn being married to Robert Jamison reveal about her relationship with Celia?
Evelyn marrying Celia’s brother allows her to remain legally connected to Celia’s family and to be entrusted with Celia’s legacy after her death. It shows that Evelyn was willing to enter a marriage of convenience—and perhaps affection—to stay close to the woman she truly loved. This act underscores the theme of sacrifice and the creative ways Evelyn navigated Hollywood’s homophobia.
3. How does this chapter affect the reader’s understanding of Evelyn’s motivations in telling her story to Monique?
With Celia dead, Evelyn has lost the one person who shared her most guarded secret. The obituary makes clear that the public record of Celia’s life is incomplete. Evelyn’s decision to finally speak to Monique becomes an act of reclaiming the truth—an attempt to ensure that the real Celia St. James, and the depth of their love, is not erased by Hollywood’s official narrative.