The Women Chapter Sixteen: Love and Reckoning in Paradise

⚠️ 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

Frankie McGrath arrives at the Coco Palms Hotel on Kauai after more than twenty-two hours of travel. Exhausted, she falls asleep immediately. When she wakes, the sound of birds singing replaces the mortars and helicopters she is used to in Vietnam. She takes a long bath, washes her hair, and puts on her SKI VIETNAM T-shirt and shorts, noting the pink-red tint of Vietnamese soil still staining her clothes. She goes to the beach, swims in the warm ocean, and falls asleep on the sand. A young Marine approaches her for a drink; she politely declines. Then Rye Walsh appears, admitting that he arranged her R&R to see her. He has broken off his engagement. Frankie calls her friend Barb for advice on sex. Barb tells her to be bold and to use condoms. Frankie gets her hair cut into a side-parted bob and buys a red-and-white hibiscus-print sheath dress. That evening, she and Rye have dinner at the hotel restaurant. An elderly veteran named Edgar LaTour buys their meal, thanking them for their service. After dinner, Rye leads Frankie to a private spot on the beach with a blanket, candles, and champagne. They kiss and make love. Over the following days, they become deeply intimate, exploring each other’s bodies and falling in love. On their last night, Rye learns that Frankie has re-upped for another tour in Vietnam. He is initially angry but eventually decides to re-upped as well to stay with her.

Key Events

Frankie arrives at the Coco Palms Hotel, sleeps, and explores Kauai.
At the beach, she declines a Marine’s approach.
Rye Walsh appears and admits he arranged her R&R.
Frankie calls Barb for sexual advice; Barb urges boldness and contraception.
Frankie buys a new dress and gets a haircut.
Rye and Frankie have a romantic dinner; a veteran buys their meal.
They share champagne and make love on a private beach.
Over subsequent days, they grow intensely intimate.
Rye learns Frankie re-upped; he argues but decides to do the same.

Character Development

Frankie McGrath undergoes a profound transformation in this chapter. She sheds the inhibitions of her Catholic-school upbringing, following Barb’s advice to be bold. She initiates sex, buys a revealing dress, and cuts her hair in a modern style. Her decision to re-up for another Vietnam tour demonstrates her growing sense of agency and commitment to her nursing duty. She refuses to let Rye dictate her choices, asserting, “That’s not how this is going to work, Rye.” This chapter marks her shift from a passive daughter to a self-directed woman.

Rye Walsh reveals a vulnerable side. He breaks off his engagement and admits he manipulated Frankie’s leave to see her. His initial anger at her re-upping shows his fear for her safety, but his decision to re-up himself reveals deep love and a willingness to sacrifice. He loses his usual cool demeanor and shows genuine emotional investment.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Love in Wartime: The accelerated romance reflects how war compresses time, forcing characters to make quick, intense connections. Frankie and Rye’s relationship grows from a single night into a lasting bond.

Transformation and Agency: Frankie’s makeover—hair, dress, sexual boldness—parallels her internal shift. The postcard to Barb (“Sex was great. I was bold. And you were right.”) encapsulates her newfound confidence.

Escape and Return: Kauai is a paradise of birdsong, flowers, and calm seas—a stark contrast to Vietnam. Yet both characters choose to return to the war, highlighting their sense of duty and the inescapability of conflict.

The Boonie Hat and the Lei: Frankie’s boonie hat, covered with unit patches from her patients, links her to the war. Rye gives her a white ginger lei, a symbol of beauty and transience. The lei’s fragrance intoxicates, just as the brief romance does.

Sex as Renewal: Their lovemaking is described as a rebirth, dissolving old rules and redefining Frankie’s sense of self. She feels “a passion so deep it stripped away her shyness.”

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 16 is a pivotal turning point in Frankie’s personal narrative. It offers a respite from war while deepening her relationship with Rye. Her choice to re-up, despite Rye’s anger, underscores her growing independence and dedication to service. The chapter vividly contrasts the horrors of Vietnam with the beauty of Hawaii, emphasizing the characters’ need for relief and the fleeting nature of peace. It establishes the central romantic conflict and sets up Frankie’s continued commitment to the war, driving the stakes for the rest of the novel.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Frankie decide to re-up for another tour in Vietnam?
Frankie feels her skills are needed. The war is escalating, and she cannot abandon her patients. She believes in her duty as a nurse, stating, “I believe in you, your duty, your honor.” Her choice reflects her growing independence and moral conviction.
How does the chapter show Frankie’s transformation from a Catholic school girl to a bold woman?
Frankie takes Barb’s advice to be bold: she buys a sexy dress, gets a modern haircut, and initiates sex. She says, “I don’t want to wait” and later writes, “I was bold.” She rejects her childhood rules and embraces her desires, asserting control over her body and choices.
What does the elderly veteran Edgar LaTour’s gesture represent?
LaTour’s gratitude and offer to buy their meal represent the appreciation some Americans still held for soldiers during the Vietnam War. It contrasts with the protests back home, highlighting a divided nation. His comment that a woman like Frankie saved his life in France underscores the theme of women’s unrecognized contributions.