Harriet Sloane Character Analysis in Lessons in Chemistry

Harriet Sloane is Elizabeth’s neighbor who helps raise Madeline. Although Harriet initially aids Elizabeth because sees a neighbor in need, she is also motivated to help Elizabeth because it allows her time away from her drunk, abusive husband, Mr. Sloane. Temperamentally, Harriet is more reserved and conservative than Elizabeth. Although she does not love her husband, she feels the need to stay in her abusive marriage. However, eventually, Elizabeth’s self-possessed attitude begins to wear off on Harriet, and she begins an affair with Walter, for whom she has developed romantic feelings.

Harriet Sloane Quotes in Lessons in Chemistry

The Lessons in Chemistry quotes below are all either spoken by Harriet Sloane or refer to Harriet Sloane. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Now, sitting rigidly on her stool in the lab, she could hear a policeman talking about someone who’d died and someone else insisting she take his handkerchief and still another saying something about a vet, but all she could think about was that moment long ago when her toes had touched bottom, the soft, silky mud inviting her to stay. Knowing what she knew now, she could only think one thing: I should have.

Related Characters: Elizabeth Zott, Calvin Evans, Harriet Sloane, Madeline Zott

Page Number and Citation: 96

Explanation and Analysis:

“Take a moment for yourself,” Harriet said. “Every day.” “A moment.”

“A moment where you are your own priority. Just you.

Not your baby, not your work, not your dead Mr. Evans, not your filthy house, not anything. Just you. Elizabeth Zott. Whatever you need, whatever you want, whatever you seek, reconnect with it in that moment.” She gave a sharp tug to her fake pearls. “Then recommit.”

Related Characters: Harriet Sloane (speaker), Calvin Evans, Elizabeth Zott

Page Number and Citation: 147

Explanation and Analysis:

Harriet thought it was wrong not to believe in God. It lacked humility. In her opinion, believing in God was required, like brushing teeth or wearing underwear. Certainly, all decent people believed in God—even indecent people, like her husband, believed in God. God is why they were still married and why their marriage was her burden to bear—because it was given to her by God. God was big on burdens, and He made sure everyone got one. Besides, if you didn’t believe in God, you also didn’t get to believe in heaven or hell, and she very much wanted to believe in hell because she very much wanted to believe that Mr. Sloane was going there.

Related Characters: Mr. Sloane, Harriet Sloane

Page Number and Citation: 233

Explanation and Analysis:

“Boys, set the table,” Elizabeth commanded. “Your mother needs a moment to herself.”

Related Characters: Elizabeth Zott (speaker), Harriet Sloane

Page Number and Citation: 261

Explanation and Analysis:

“Let’s say supper at six, then,” Elizabeth said, not wanting her to go. “The home lab. Everyone—you, Wilson, Mad, Sixty-Thirty, me, Harriet, Walter. You’ll need to meet Wakely and Mason at some point, too. The whole family.”

Avery Parker, her face suddenly familiar with Calvin’s smile, turned back and took Elizabeth’s hands in her own. “The whole family,” she said.

Related Characters: Elizabeth Zott (speaker), Avery Parker (speaker), Wilson, Madeline Zott, Six-Thirty, Harriet Sloane, Dr. Mason, Wakely, Walter Pine

Page Number and Citation: 386

Explanation and Analysis:

Harriet Sloane Character Timeline in Lessons in Chemistry

The timeline below shows where the character Harriet Sloane appears in Lessons in Chemistry. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Boryweitz departs. She dreams about Calvin and is later woken up by her neighbor, Mrs. Harriet Sloane, who comes to check on her and the crying Madeline. (full context)

At first, Elizabeth does not recognize Harriet, as they have never spoken in public. However, Harriet quickly introduces herself and offers to... (full context)

Harriet apologizes for not visiting sooner—she assumed Elizabeth already had help. Then, she offers her contact... (full context)

Harriet had been closely observing Elizabeth and Calvin’s relationship from the start, albeit from the discrete... (full context)

After her initial meeting with Harriet, Elizabeth repeatedly considers calling her for help. It takes her four days to finally make... (full context)

...balance of exploration and safety: Elizabeth encourages her to experiment and discover her surroundings, and Harriet and Six-Thirty ensure that she stays out of danger. Gradually, Elizabeth and Madeline develop a... (full context)

...points out that she couldn't be busy at 4:30 a.m., the team’s rowing time. Surprisingly, Harriet agrees to babysit Madeline during these early hours, eager for a respite from her own... (full context)

...and agrees to rehire her. Although Elizabeth is happy to have her old job back, Harriet thinks she should not have returned to a workplace that mistreated her and Calvin. Although... (full context)

...Science Journal, crediting Boryweitz as a co-author. Outraged, she confronts them and resigns. Back home, Harriet informs Elizabeth about calls from Walter, and Madeline is shocked to learn that Elizabeth spoke... (full context)

In May 1961, Mrs. Mudford assigns her class a project to create family trees. Harriet, feeling the assignment is just a nosy endeavor by Mrs. Mudford to pry into their... (full context)

Although Harriet and Elizabeth share a close friendship and agree on many things, they differ in their... (full context)

...about her inability to complete the family tree due to her limited knowledge about Calvin. Harriet comforts her, accidentally revealing that Calvin had a kind of “fairy godmother.” Harriet learned this... (full context)

Harriet pieces together that the donor was making donations on Calvin’s behalf and stopped after he... (full context)

Harriet decides to sneak Madeline out of school to see Elizabeth live on the Supper at... (full context)

Once inside, Walter’s secretary offers Harriet and Madeline front-row seats, which they accept after ensuring that the bright lights will prevent... (full context)

Walter, concerned, meets with Harriet and Madeline, questioning why Madeline isn’t in school. He warns that Elizabeth might be upset... (full context)

After speaking with Walter, Harriet and Madeline return to the audience to watch Elizabeth. In a bold move at the... (full context)

...bypassing security. Inside, Elizabeth introduces Six-Thirty as her dog. The security guard who talked with Harriet and Madeline tells her that he already knows the dog because it came with them... (full context)

...want to subject her family to an invasive interviewer. Walter, who has grown fond of Harriet and developed feelings for her, seeks Harriet’s assistance to persuade Elizabeth into accepting the interview. (full context)

...and, overwhelmed by depression, ends up baking brownies on her show for several consecutive days. Harriet tries to shield Madeline from the article, but Madeline reads it anyway and gets upset... (full context)

One evening, while Harriet is out, Wakely stops by to check on Madeline. Shortly after, Elizabeth arrives and recognizes... (full context)

...of Life, numerous letters from women across the country supporting Elizabeth appear, including Frask’s letter. Harriet, excited, attempts to show these to Elizabeth, but Elizabeth shows no interest. The unpublished article... (full context)

...cynical view of people, indicative of Elizabeth’s growing depression. It’s now November 1961, and both Harriet and Madeline are concerned about Elizabeth’s mental state. Harriet, pondering the situation, suddenly has an... (full context)

Overcoming Tragedy and Trauma Theme Icon

...The previous evening, she went gone to inform Walter of her decision and unexpectedly found Harriet at his home. It turns out that Walter and Harriet have been carrying on an... (full context)

...her female viewers to be brave enough to embrace change like Marjorie. She also acknowledges Harriet as a dear friend and shares the advice Harriet had given her years ago: to... (full context)

...Elizabeth hasn’t received any job offers from universities or research labs since leaving the show. Harriet tells Elizabeth that Hastings’ Head of Personnel, a “Miss Frask,” has called for her. Elizabeth... (full context)

...an invitation to them for “supper at six” at her home lab. She includes Walter, Harriet, Madeline, and Six-Thirty in the invitation and mentions that they should also meet Dr. Mason... (full context)

Lessons in Chemistry

Harriet Sloane Character Analysis

Harriet Sloane Quotes in Lessons in Chemistry

Chapter 12: Calvin’s Parting Gift Quotes

Chapter 17: Harriet Sloane Quotes

Chapter 27: All About Me Quotes

Chapter 29: Bonding Quotes

Chapter 45: Supper at Six Quotes

Harriet Sloane Character Timeline in Lessons in Chemistry