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Visitation: Chapter 21
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in NW, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Class Identity and Social Mobility
Geography and Human Connection
Sex and Relationships
Altruism
Summary
Analysis
Leah didn’t go to many dinner parties when she was younger and is surprised at what a big part of her life they’ve become. About a dozen people have gathered at Natalie’s house for the night, and Leah always feels that she and Michel stand out among all the lawyers and bankers. Leah tells the story of what happened recently with Shar, the girl in the headscarf, but feels that her life isn’t interesting to the other people there.
Although Leah feels her privilege strongly when interacting with someone like Shar, this dinner party reminds her that there are people like Natalie and her friends that occupy an even higher rung on the social ladder.
Themes
Leah finally feels free once she and Michel have left the party and are allowed to complain to each other, but Leah complains too much and makes things awkward. They ride home in silence.
The party should help Leah and Michel unite over what they share in common (a social class), but this passage highlights again how they struggle to communicate in their marriage.
Themes
The next morning, Leah wakes up and finds that Olive is dead. Just as she’s shouting about it, Pauline arrives at the door. Michel is confused and tries to establish the timeline of events that led to Olive’s death. Pauline asks if Leah remembered hearing Olive bark the previous night.
The death of Olive suggests that it isn’t possible to just ignore problems—the consequences will come whether a person is ready or not. This foreshadows difficulties based on all the secrets Leah is keeping from Michel.
Themes
