My Sister’s Keeper
WEDNESDAY CAMPBELL
by Picoult, JodieThe chapter opens with Campbell Alexander, a sharp-witted attorney, fielding an early morning call from his mother about his father’s latest scandal. Irritated by her dramatics, he deflects her concerns with dry humor and hangs up, reflecting on the burdens of familial ties. His service dog, Judge, serves as both a companion and a symbolic counterpoint to human folly. Campbell’s luxurious but sparsely stocked apartment reflects his detached, fast-paced lifestyle—a man who prioritizes work and convenience over domesticity, yet surrounds himself with curated high-end possessions.
Campbell’s morning routine is disrupted when he arrives at Rosie’s, his usual café, only to find his regular table occupied and his favorite waitress, Ophelia, gone. The café’s quirky atmosphere contrasts with his frustration as he deals with a dismissive waiter who questions Judge’s presence. The exchange reveals Campbell’s quick wit and disdain for unnecessary intrusions into his personal space. His brief musing on Ophelia’s sudden elopement with an eccentric artist underscores his cynical view of love as fleeting and unreliable.
A moment of tension arises when Campbell spots a woman outside the café who reminds him of someone from his past. Before he can confirm her identity, a passing bus obscures his view, leaving him unsettled. This fleeting encounter hints at unresolved personal history, juxtaposed with another interruption—his mother’s relentless calls, which he ignores. The scene transitions to his law office, where he barks orders at his assistant, Kerri, only to find Anna Fitzgerald, his young client, unexpectedly polishing his doorknob.
The chapter’s climax centers on a phone call from Anna’s mother, Sara, who claims Anna wants to drop her lawsuit. Campbell, skeptical, presses Anna for the truth, revealing her defiance and the strained dynamics between her and her family. The exchange highlights Campbell’s professional detachment and Anna’s quiet determination, setting the stage for a legal and emotional confrontation. The chapter closes with unresolved tension, leaving readers curious about Anna’s motives and Campbell’s next move.
FAQs
1. How does the protagonist’s relationship with his parents shape his worldview, and what literary devices are used to convey this?
Answer:
The protagonist’s strained relationship with his parents—particularly his mother’s frequent calls about his father’s affairs—colors his cynical outlook on relationships. The chapter uses humor (“if only so that I would receive sunrise phone calls like this only once or twice a week”) and metaphor (“love has all the lasting permanence of a rainbow”) to underscore his emotional detachment. His wish for siblings reveals a desire to dilute familial obligations, while his comparison of dogs severing contact with their mothers (“Reason number 106 why dogs are smarter than humans”) highlights his preference for transactional relationships over familial bonds.2. Analyze the significance of the protagonist’s apartment and daily rituals. What do they reveal about his character?
Answer:
The meticulously curated apartment (“a work of art” with luxury items like signed first editions and imported appliances) reflects his need for control and perfectionism, contrasting sharply with the chaos of his family life. His routine at Rosie’s café—ordering the same items, flirting with Ophelia—reveals a reliance on predictability. The disruption of this routine (Ophelia’s absence, a stranger at his table) triggers visible irritation (“Seven-thirty A.M., and already this day is a bust”), emphasizing his discomfort with change. These details paint him as someone who constructs order externally to compensate for interpersonal instability.3. How does the chapter use Judge, the service dog, to develop themes of companionship and societal perception?
Answer:
Judge serves as both a literal companion (“Judge and I have been together for seven years”) and a symbolic shield against vulnerability. The protagonist jokes about Judge’s name (“what attorney wouldn’t want to be able to put a Judge in a crate”), revealing his wit and defensiveness. The waiter’s assumption that Judge indicates blindness prompts a sarcastic retort about SARS, showcasing the protagonist’s frustration with societal assumptions. This interaction critiques how people project narratives onto others, while Judge’s unwavering presence underscores the theme of animals offering nonjudgmental loyalty absent in human relationships.4. What narrative purpose does the fleeting glimpse of the woman with “a running river of black hair” serve?
Answer:
The woman’s brief appearance creates narrative tension, hinting at a backstory (“I wait for her to lift her face—to see if this could possibly be who I think it is”). Her disappearance after the bus passes mirrors the protagonist’s transient connections and unresolved past. The vivid description (“a running river of black hair”) contrasts with the sterile precision of his apartment, suggesting an emotional trigger or lost opportunity. This moment disrupts his controlled demeanor, foreshadowing later emotional stakes while maintaining mystery.5. Contrast the protagonist’s professional demeanor with his personal interactions. How does this duality advance the chapter’s themes?
Answer:
Professionally, he is assertive (“already barking orders for Kerri”) and analytical (demanding deposition copies and judge details). Personally, he deflects with humor (the SARS quip) and avoids emotional depth (ignoring his mother’s call). This duality reflects a compartmentalized life: in court, he commands respect, but privately, he struggles with intimacy. The juxtaposition is clearest when Anna Fitzgerald’s presence disrupts his workflow—he masks discomfort with sarcasm (“Is there something you’d like to tell me?”), illustrating how his professional armor cracks when confronted with raw, familial conflict.
Quotes
1. “WE ARE ALL, I SUPPOSE, beholden to our parents—the question is, how much?”
This opening line sets the tone for the protagonist’s complex relationship with family, introducing the central tension between familial obligation and personal boundaries that runs through the chapter.
2. “Take it from me: love has all the lasting permanence of a rainbow—beautiful while it’s there, and just as likely to have disappeared by the time you blink.”
A poignant metaphor revealing Campbell’s cynical worldview about relationships, shaped by his parents’ dysfunctional marriage and Ophelia’s sudden elopement.
3. “My apartment, it is a work of art. Sleek and minimalist, but what is there is the best that money can buy…”
This description of Campbell’s living space perfectly encapsulates his carefully curated persona—controlled, expensive, and revealingly empty (both literally and emotionally), much like his refrigerator contents.
4. “I have SARS… He’s tallying the people I infect.”
A sharp example of Campbell’s defensive wit, demonstrating how he uses humor as both a weapon and shield when his service dog (and by extension, his vulnerabilities) are questioned.
5. “Unlike my normal table, this one has a view of the street… Inside me, everything stops.”
This moment of unexpected recognition (or imagined recognition) marks a subtle turning point where Campbell’s controlled world is disrupted, foreshadowing emotional developments to come.