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Chapter 55
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Play It As It Lays, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Meaninglessness
Gender Inequality and Identity
Loss and Recovery
Superficiality
Summary
Analysis
Maria tells the hypnotist she won’t be returning for future sessions. The hypnotist pauses before telling Maria that she shouldn’t blame herself for her inability to restart her career. As Maria leaves the hypnotist’s office, he tells her that “some people don’t want to know.” Maria leaves, drives to the New Havana Ballroom, and calls Ivan Costello for help.
The hypnotist’s vague statement that “some people don’t want to know” is a fairly apt description of Maria, who will resort to any means of distract to avoid introspection—to avoid knowing herself. Maria’s decision to call Ivan reveals how desperate she is for distraction, since Chapter 55 has revealed Ivan to be a particularly uncaring lover.
Active
Themes
