Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Ambition vs. Morality
Femininity, Sexuality, and Power
Truth and Identity
Family
Summary
Analysis
Back in the present, Grace enters the study to tell Evelyn she has a meeting soon, prompting Monique to wrap up for the day. As soon as Monique gets home, she picks up a call from Monique’s mother, who asks her how things are going. Monique knows she’s really asking how life is without David. Monique’s mother was never fully on board with their relationship. She tells Monique that she’s been thinking of visiting. Monique considers this: her mother will be critical and concerned, but at least she’ll provide some company. Monique agrees, at which her mom tells her she’s already booked the ticket.
Monique and her mother clearly talk to each other often, which shows that though her mother might be a little overbearing, their relationship is strong. Monique’s mother is clearly eager to see Monique—she booked her ticket before even asking her, which also demonstrates her assumption that Monique will be happy to see her, too.
Themes
Monique isn’t excited about her mom’s visit, but she knows it’ll be good for her. Her mom asks if she received the package of the photographs her dad took during his work on movie sets—she didn’t. She tells her mom that Evelyn wants her to write her autobiography, and when her mom says it’s probably because she’s a talented writer, she insists that there must be something else going on. Her mom tells her to share the “juicy stuff” with her.
Monique’s mother’s excitement about the project is slightly foreboding—a sign that there might be some parts of Evelyn’s life that could intersect with Monique and her family in surprising ways. At the same time, Monique’s mother’s suggestion that Evelyn chose Monique for her talent emphasizes her naivete and establishes her as an outsider—someone who doesn’t understand everything that happens in the interviews.
Themes
