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 alleged affair. Irritated by her constant drama, he deflects her concerns with dry humor and hangs up, revealing his strained relationship with his parents. 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, emphasizing his preference for dining out over domesticity. The scene establishes his sardonic worldview and self-reliant nature.
Campbell’s morning routine is disrupted when he arrives at Rosie’s, his usual café, only to find his regular table occupied by a stranger. The absence of Ophelia, a waitress he flirted with, and her sudden elopement with an eccentric artist further unsettle him. A confrontation with a skeptical waiter about Judge’s status as a service dog showcases Campbell’s quick wit and disdain for societal norms. Through the café window, he spots a mysterious woman who momentarily captivates him, hinting at a deeper, unresolved personal history before she disappears from view.
The narrative shifts to Campbell’s law office, where he barks orders at his assistant, Kerri, displaying his professional intensity. Anna Fitzgerald, a young client, surprises him by polishing his doorknob—a task he supposedly assigned her. Their interaction is charged with tension, especially when Campbell receives a call from Anna’s mother, Sara, who insists Anna is dropping her lawsuit. Campbell’s skepticism and Anna’s evasiveness suggest a conflict between familial pressure and personal agency, leaving the legal outcome uncertain.
The chapter closes with Campbell confronting Anna about her mother’s claims, exposing the disconnect between Anna’s actions and her family’s expectations. Anna’s nonchalant defiance and Kerri’s eavesdropping add layers of intrigue, setting the stage for a legal and emotional showdown. Campbell’s sharp dialogue and Anna’s guarded responses highlight the themes of autonomy and manipulation, leaving readers questioning who truly holds power in their attorney-client relationship.
FAQs
1. How does Campbell Alexander’s opening reflection about parental obligations set the tone for his character and relationships?
Answer:
Campbell’s opening monologue reveals his conflicted feelings about familial duty and establishes his cynical worldview. His exasperation with his mother’s frequent calls about his father’s affairs shows emotional detachment, while his wish for siblings to “share the burden” demonstrates a transactional view of relationships. This frames Campbell as someone who values independence over emotional connection, a trait reinforced by his minimalist apartment and preference for restaurant food—both symbols of his self-contained lifestyle. His comment about dogs severing contact with their mothers further underscores his desire for emotional distance from family.2. Analyze the significance of Campbell’s service dog, Judge, as both a practical tool and symbolic element in the narrative.
Answer:
Judge serves multiple functions: as a genuine service animal (though Campbell’s specific need isn’t disclosed), as comic relief through their banter (“putting a Judge in a crate”), and as Campbell’s only consistent emotional connection. Their seven-year bond contrasts sharply with Campbell’s transient human relationships. The dog’s name—a playful jab at Campbell’s legal profession—reveals his dark humor. Judge also acts as a social buffer, allowing Campbell to deflect personal questions (like the waiter’s intrusion about his disability) with sarcasm rather than vulnerability, showcasing his defensive communication style.3. What does the disrupted routine at Rosie’s café reveal about Campbell’s personality and foreshadow about upcoming events?
Answer:
Campbell’s irritation at losing his usual table and discovering Ophelia’s abrupt elopement highlights his need for control and predictability. His shock at these changes—including his visceral reaction to the mysterious woman outside—foreshadows upcoming disruptions to his ordered life. The café scene mirrors later professional disruptions when Anna Fitzgerald appears unexpectedly in his office. The “seven-thirty A.M., and already this day is a bust” line becomes ironic foreshadowing, as both personal and professional surprises converge to challenge Campbell’s carefully constructed detachment.4. How does the phone call from Sara Fitzgerald create dramatic irony in the scene with Anna?
Answer:
The call creates tension through dramatic irony—readers know Anna is present while her mother believes she’s “out for a run.” This deception suggests Anna’s growing autonomy from her family and aligns her with Campbell’s own strained parental relationships. Campbell’s pointed question (“Is there something you’d like to tell me?”) and sarcastic Flo Jo reference reveal his legal acumen in detecting discrepancies, while Anna’s nonchalant shrug shows she’s learning his defensive tactics. Their dynamic shifts from attorney-client to potential allies against parental figures, setting up future collaboration.5. Evaluate how Campbell’s physical environment (apartment, café, office) reflects his psychological state.
Answer:
Campbell’s spaces mirror his emotional guardedness and perfectionism. His apartment’s “sleek and minimalist” design with luxury items (Italian coffeemaker, signed first editions) shows curated control, while the barren fridge symbolizes emotional emptiness. The café’s usual predictability represents his comfort with superficial social scripts, disrupted by the morning’s chaos. His office—where he “barks orders”—is a domain of absolute authority, now invaded by Anna’s presence and her mother’s call. These environments collectively reveal Campbell’s struggle: maintaining impeccable external order while internal turmoil (symbolized by the mysterious woman’s fleeting appearance) threatens to surface.
Quotes
1. “WE ARE ALL, I SUPPOSE, beholden to our parents—the question is, how much?”
This opening line sets the central theme of familial obligation and personal boundaries, introducing the protagonist’s conflicted relationship with his parents while posing a universal question about family ties.
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 love and relationships, shaped by his parents’ dysfunctional marriage and his own romantic disappointments.
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 showcases Campbell’s meticulous control over his environment—a stark contrast to the chaos of his family life—and reveals his materialistic yet refined tastes.
4. “I have SARS… He’s tallying the people I infect.”
A sharp, sarcastic retort demonstrating Campbell’s quick wit and defensive humor when questioned about his service dog, revealing his tendency to deflect personal inquiries with dark comedy.
5. “I stare at her daughter, polishing a mere five feet away… ‘You wouldn’t happen to know where she is?’”
This tense exchange highlights the dramatic irony of Anna’s secret visit to Campbell’s office while her mother claims she’s elsewhere, setting up the central conflict about truth and deception in their legal case.