76 pages • 2 hours read
Kim EdwardsThe Memory Keeper's Daughter
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Part 6Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 6: “1988”
Part 6, Chapter 19 Summary: “July 1988”
David sits upstairs in his office watching Rosemary and her 5-year-old son, Jack, in the garden. He thinks about how much he loves engaging with Jack and helping him grow, although “it pained David that his memories of Paul at this age were so sparse” (310). He thinks of how afraid he was to tell Norah and Paul the truth but realizes that this secret distanced himself from them. Instead,he threw himself into his work, and he regrets deeply his absentee parenting. He remembers buying the duplex where he and Rosemary now live side-by-side,and he refuses to let her pay rent. Rosemary believes that this is his way of making amends for abandoning his daughter. He and Rosemary have become close, and when Paul visits, he uses Rosemary as a buffer between himself and his father. Rosemary hangs paper cutouts all over her Jack’s bedroom, which she cuts out at night. She also sells them for side money. David thinks about the unsealed door that joins their separate houses which Rosemary does not know about,feeling pride that he does not go through it and has never taken advantage of her.
David puts on his running clothes, thinking about the difference between Rosemary and Norah giving birth. David and Rosemary talk about the insurance files he’s been going over and how Rosemary’s last class is tonight. He thinks that she seems older and more worldly than she is. He thinks about how he left his old practice after Jack was born to start his own practice, where he is sometimes paid in produce and takes people whether or not they have insurance. Rosemary discloses that she is moving for a job in Harrisburg near her mother. David congratulates her although he will be sad to have the house to himself. Rosemary makes him promise to visit and thanks him for everything he’s done for her. Then she tells David that he has to tell his secret to Norah and Paul. David thinks about how he “had come back from West Virginia set free from the grief and loss he’d locked away all those years [...] he’d finally had the strength to give Norah the freedom to remake her life” (315).
David has set up an account for both Rosemary and Phoebe, after using a private detective to find Phoebe’s home address. He remembers driving to Phoebe’s home to tell Caroline that he was going to come clean to Paul and Norah. He stood at the bus stop, watching them through the window, struck by how much she looks like Paul.He decides to drive away so that he does not cause Norah any more pain.
He tries to describe this decision to Rosemary, but she pushes back. Rosemary informs David that she and Stuart Wells, a respiratory therapist who has loved her for years, are getting married. David congratulates her, and Rosemary asks him to give her away at their wedding in two weeks. David watches Jack while Rosemary gets dressed for school, and she promises to send David photos of Jack when they move. David thinks about how he stopped taking pictures because he realized how much of his life he was missing not because of the criticism he received,which is what everyone thinks. David decides not to tell Norah, and Rosemary informs him that Paul called from Seville where he was studying flamenco guitar. Paul thinks about his photographs and his desire to freeze time as Rosemary leaves.
David goes for a run to Norah’s house, remembering it’s her birthday deciding that he would tell her today,“though he could not imagine how Norah would respond” (320). Norah isn’t home and so David wanders through his old house, remembering the past. He starts writing several notes to Norah about their daughter but decides against it, putting them in his pocket: “He could hardly imagine what his life would be like without the weight of his hidden knowledge” (322). He fixes the leaky bathroom sink. The phone rings, and the caller leaves a message,which reminds David that Norah is in Paris with her boyfriend. David writes Norah a happy birthday note, not mentioning their daughter.
Part 6, Chapter 20 Summary
Norah waits for Paul, who is late, at the Louvre Gardens with Bree. Norah thinks of how breast cancer “had left [Bree] changed, in ways both large and small”(324). Bree reassures Norah that Paul will show up, although Norah worries that her love-struck son has forgotten. Paul made the date a few months ago when he realized they’d be in the same city but didn’t leave Norah contact information. David had died,and Paul missed the funeral, so Norah is worried about how Paul will react. Bree asks if Norah ever got over David leaving, and they talk about how different David is from Frederic, Norah’s boyfriend, who has been called away on work. Norah thanks Bree for helping with David’s funeral, and they talk about being surprised at how many patients had come to express their condolences. Norah reflects on Paul growing up and on Frederic: “He wanted to get married, and that was a decision too” (328).
Paul arrives, and Norah and Bree talk about how handsome and talented he is. Bree leaves them alone, and Norah tells Paul that David died of a heart attack. Paul is shocked and almost unbelieving. Norah tries to comfort him:“Paul nodded, but his face was still closed like a fist” (330). Paul talks about how strained their relationship was. Norah assures him that David loved him, but Paul denies it. Norah restates this, and Paul cries. He asks if Rosemary attended the funeral, and they talk about his father’s platonic relationship with Rosemary. Norah acknowledges that David kept them both at a distance, reflecting on how her independence has made her happier than marriage ever did.
Paul talks about how arrogant Americans are, which reminds Norah of Frederic. They talk about Frederic, and Paul asks if she’s going to marry him and move to France. Norah is unsure but optimistic. They talk briefly about David’s desire to be the rescuer, and then sit in silence. Paul sees his girlfriend, Michelle, across the garden and goes and kisses her. He introduces Michelle to his mother, and they agree to meet for breakfast to talk. Michelle and Paul leave on the metro, and Norah goes back to her and Frederic’s apartment. She sits in the courtyard alone, having forgotten her book at the Louvre, and accidentally smiles at a man. She thinks about how easy it would be to start an affair but does not.Frederic returns,and they talk about each other’s days. They eat dinner,and Norah almost faints when she gets up to leave.
Part 6, Chapter 21 Summary: “November 1988”
Caroline thinks about Phoebe’s boyfriend, Robert, as he walks up and down “the aisle of the bus, introducing himself to everyone and commenting on the route, the driver, the day” (339) on the way to the annual Upside Down Society dance. Passengers ignore him, except Phoebe, who smiles lovingly at him, making Caroline reflect on her daughter’s innocence, the nature of love, and Robert’s lack of memory for people other than Phoebe. Caroline wakes Al, who has been asleep, and expresses her dismay at how much traveling he has been doing. Caroline watches Phoebe and Robert, thinking about how she has tried to avoid discussing her daughter’s incipient sexuality. Phoebe laughs at something Robert says in the same way that Caroline remembers Norah laughing. She thinks about the letter she received regarding the banking account David set up and how upset she was when she heard of David’s death. Caroline would have to go into the office to find out what money was in the account but decides to wait until Al gets home to ask his advice.
At the event, no one is dancing, so Al asks Caroline to dance. They both remember when she accepted his proposal:“Caroline had forgotten [...] how easily and fluidly their bodies moved together, how free it made her feel to dance” (343). Other people start dancing as well, and Caroline thinks about how Phoebe is on the waiting list for a semi-autonomous residential facility even though Caroline doesn’t want to live apart from her. Caroline and Al dance some more, and when they stop,Caroline realizes Phoebe has vanished. Linda says she went to get more punch, and Caroline goes to check on her despite Al’s protestations. She finds Phoebe and Robert about to kiss and reprimands them. They both protest, saying they’re going to get married and they love each other. Caroline shoos Robert away, and Phoebe protests again. Caroline says they can’t get married, but Phoebe assures her that they will buy a house and have babies. Caroline outlines how much responsibility this will all be, much more than having her kitten. Phoebe gets upset, but Caroline distracts her with chores.
Later, Caroline shares her concerns with Al, who acknowledges that he would not want the work of raising Phoebe’s baby. Caroline suggests preventing her from seeing Robert, but Al reminds Caroline how she’s always telling people not to underestimate Phoebe. He says that if Phoebe was independent, they could travel, and Caroline expresses her fear that Al wants to leave her, which stuns and upsets Al. Caroline admits that this argument is mostly about the savings account. Al thinks David’s secrecy is bizarre, and Caroline thinks of Norah and Paul. Al suggests they go to the office and find out how much is in the account before they make any decisions, then reassures her that he will not leave. They go to bed.
The next morning, Caroline makes breakfast and looks at a postcard from Doro. Al suggests she come with him on his trip to test out Phoebe’s independence, but Caroline refuses. Al leaves, and Caroline goes about her week. One day, Phoebe pulls out a puzzle that she says she got from a friend, Mike, on the bus. Caroline asks about Mike suspiciously, and Phoebe tells her that Mike wanted to show her his new bird at his apartment. Caroline tells her she can’t go off with strangers, and Phoebe replies that she is asking Caroline’s permission. Caroline suggests they go to Mike’s apartment together, but when they get on the bus, Mike is nowhere to be found. Caroline tells Phoebe that Mike was lying and expresses her concern that Phoebe will go off with a stranger who will hurt her. They talk about Robert and the secret word, “starfire,” that lets them know a stranger is telling the truth.
Caroline takes Phoebe to her job where she bind documents, thinking “back to the long hours of organizing, all the presentations and the fights and the paperwork it had taken to make this moment possible for Phoebe. Yet so much remained” (351). Caroline worries more about Phoebe’s safety and about Phoebe’s relationship with Robert. At home, Caroline receives a phone call that Al had gotten into an accident and was at the hospital with a broken leg. She and Phoebe go to the same hospital Caroline took Phoebe to after she was stung by a bee. Al looks terrible even though he tries to reassure her that he is okay. They discuss the accident, and how close to death Al came. Phoebe starts to cry, and Al comforts her. Phoebe asks about Al’s truck, which he says is ruined.
Al comes home after two days but is an irritable patient. Caroline thinks of Leo, David, and Norah and how she had gone to the savings account office:“The conversation had been in her mind all week, though she’d had no time to think about it or talk with Al” (354). Caroline sees Phoebe outside, who informs her that she skipped work to hang out with Robert and they took the bus by themselves. Caroline scolds her, and Phoebe replies that they’re getting married. Caroline tells them they can’t because they know nothing about marriage and tells Robert to go home. Robert brings her roses because it is Saturday and Al didn’t get a chance to bring her roses like he usually does. She tells them to come inside, then goes upstairs and argues a bit with Al. Al says he’s going to drive locally only from now on, admitting that he always thought this would happen. Caroline urges him to retire, especially considering the money David left Phoebe, but Al says it’s not his. Caroline explains everything that has happened, admitting that it’s time for Phoebe to have a life of her own.
Part 6 Analysis
This section demonstrates David’s lack of self-reflexivity, especially in how he conceptualizes his relationships with other people. For example, it is Rosemary who informs him that he is using her as a surrogate daughter, which is perhaps why David never has to deal with the ramifications for what he has done. Even though he intends to tell Norah and Paul, Rosemary’s existence allows him to put it off until he dies without ever having told them the truth. Interestingly enough, David appears to be the kind of glue that holds this narrative together, as all of the relationships more or less revolve around the other characters’ relationships with him. In this way, it makes sense as to why Caroline, Norah, and Paul cannot seem to believe that David has died. Much like how he conceptualizes himself in a way that is entirely narcissistic, the other characters also perceive David as a kind of omnipresent force. Even though the title of the book concerns Phoebe, this section clarifies that David himself is the character around which the entire narrative revolves.
Similarly, this section also demonstrates David’s winding down in the last chapter before his death; he seems content despite the regret that he claims to feel. He is much calmer, almost as though the specter of death is already lurking within the novel. He holds no animosity towards anyone in his family although he wishes his relationships had turned out differently. There is no longer the tension that had been ubiquitous in David’s life throughout the rest of the novel. Rather, after he has broken his silence, he seems to be content to never speak of it or have to deal with his past ever again. Instead, he seems to look forward to a simple future helping out Rosemary. His soul seems at peace, ready for the death that awaits him.
However, his death leaves his family in chaos. The audience witnesses the true depth of David’s narcissism given how proud he is at never having taken advantage of Rosemary. This pride demonstrates the relatively low bar he holds himself to in terms of his relationships. His altruism in helping his patients does nothing to ameliorate this; rather, it reinforces that he is an individual consumed with appearance. He wants to appear to be the rescuer, the saint, even though his family members—the people who are closest to him—recognize that this seemingly selfless behavior is only skin deep. The audience witnesses the power imbalance that David manipulates in terms of his relationships: by not telling his family members his secret, he holds power over them as knowledge of a secret represents great power. Although he dissolves his family, David is not willing to let them go, effectively haunting them even after his death. The audience also witnesses the emotional bond between Paul and Norah that seems to result from David’s distance. Prior to David’s death, the audience was not permitted to see the emotional proximity between Norah and her son, as though it is only through David’s death that the narrative has enough space to illustrate other relationships.
