Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of Leaving Time
    DramaLiterary Fiction

    Leaving Time

    by Picoult, Jodi
    “Leaving Time” by Jodi Picoult is a gripping novel that intertwines mystery, grief, and the bond between humans and elephants. The story follows Jenna Metcalf, a 13-year-old girl searching for her mother, Alice, a renowned elephant researcher who disappeared a decade earlier under mysterious circumstances. With the help of a skeptical psychic and a disgraced detective, Jenna uncovers buried secrets about her mother’s work and the tragic events at an elephant sanctuary. The novel explores themes of memory, loss, and maternal love, while weaving in fascinating insights into elephant behavior and emotions. Picoult blends emotional depth with suspense, culminating in a surprising twist that redefines the narrative.
    PreviousNext
    Leaving Time

    Chapter 20: Alice

    by Picoult, Jodi

    The chap­ter focus­es on Mau­ra, a preg­nant African ele­phant with a vio­lent past, now resid­ing in a sanc­tu­ary. Ele­phant preg­nan­cies last 22 months, requir­ing immense phys­i­cal invest­ment, and mater­nal instincts are fierce­ly protective—interfering with a calf can be dead­ly. Mau­ra was pre­vi­ous­ly a cir­cus ele­phant who attacked a male com­pan­ion and a zookeep­er, earn­ing her a “killer” rep­u­ta­tion. Her preg­nan­cy went unno­ticed until late stages due to lack of rou­tine test­ing, prompt­ing quar­an­tine to man­age risks, espe­cial­ly with anoth­er ele­phant, Hes­ter, in the enclo­sure. Research revealed Mau­ra had pre­vi­ous­ly giv­en birth in cap­tiv­i­ty, where she was restrained dur­ing deliv­ery, caus­ing extreme dis­tress until reunit­ed with her calf, who was lat­er sold to a zoo.

    The sanc­tu­ary staff had mixed moti­va­tions for antic­i­pat­ing Maura’s calf. Thomas, the sanc­tu­ary founder, saw fundrais­ing poten­tial, while oth­ers like Grace were eager to wit­ness their first ele­phant birth. The nar­ra­tor, Alice, felt a deep con­nec­tion with Mau­ra, hav­ing arrived at the sanc­tu­ary around the same time and giv­en birth to her daugh­ter short­ly after. Alice observed Maura’s behav­ior close­ly, believ­ing they shared a mutu­al appre­ci­a­tion for their sanc­tu­ary life. Despite per­son­al fulfillment—raising her daugh­ter, research­ing ele­phant cog­ni­tion, and con­tribut­ing to the sanctuary—Alice grap­pled with chal­lenges, includ­ing finan­cial strain, eth­i­cal dilem­mas in her research, and ten­sions with a senior staff mem­ber, Nevvie.

    Nevvie fre­quent­ly under­mined Alice’s deci­sions, from adjust­ing ele­phant diets to dis­miss­ing her research meth­ods, cit­ing her own expe­ri­ence as supe­ri­or. Their con­flicts esca­lat­ed over dis­agree­ments on Maura’s deliv­ery timeline—Alice pre­dict­ed an immi­nent birth based on phys­i­cal signs, while Nevvie insist­ed it would occur dur­ing the next full moon. Alice recalled wit­ness­ing a wild ele­phant birth, describ­ing the herd’s pro­tec­tive behav­ior and cel­e­bra­to­ry reac­tions, con­trast­ing it with Maura’s trau­mat­ic past deliv­ery in chains. This mem­o­ry rein­forced her deter­mi­na­tion to ensure Maura’s calf would not be tak­en away.

    The chap­ter under­scores the com­plex­i­ties of ele­phant behav­ior, mater­nal bonds, and the eth­i­cal respon­si­bil­i­ties of sanc­tu­ary care. Alice’s per­son­al and pro­fes­sion­al strug­gles mir­ror Maura’s journey—both seek­ing safe­ty and auton­o­my in a world that has not always been kind. The impend­ing birth sym­bol­izes hope but also ten­sion, as dif­fer­ing per­spec­tives among the staff high­light broad­er debates about ani­mal wel­fare, research ethics, and human inter­ven­tion in nat­ur­al process­es.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. What were the key differences between Maura’s previous circus birth experience and the planned birth at the sanctuary?

      Answer:
      At the circus, Maura was chained during birth to allow handlers to control the newborn, which triggered aggressive behavior as she desperately tried to reach her calf. The sanctuary planned a completely different approach, allowing Maura natural birthing conditions without restraints. Additionally, while the circus separated Maura from her calf at age two for sale to a zoo, sanctuary staff explicitly promised this wouldn’t happen again. The sanctuary also quarantined Maura pre-birth due to unknown herd dynamics, unlike the circus which forced her to live unnaturally with a male elephant, contributing to her earlier aggression.

      2. How does the chapter illustrate the theme of interspecies kinship between Alice and Maura?

      Answer:
      The chapter shows profound parallels between Alice and Maura as mothers who arrived at the sanctuary around the same time and raised their young there. Alice describes catching Maura’s eye and feeling a wordless understanding between them, despite scientific reservations about anthropomorphism. Both faced challenges protecting their young—Alice from Nevvie’s childcare decisions and Maura from institutional separation practices. Their bond is underscored when Alice promises Maura “I won’t let it happen again” regarding calf separation, mirroring her own maternal instincts to safeguard Jenna. The sanctuary becomes their shared space of hard-won safety.

      3. Analyze how the author uses contrasting perspectives on elephant care to develop conflict in the chapter.

      Answer:
      The chapter establishes tension between scientific/academic approaches (Alice’s wild elephant research and Thomas’s audio studies) and experiential knowledge (Nevvie’s circus background). This plays out in disputes over food preparation, bone studies, and even Maura’s delivery timeline—Nevvie prioritizes tradition (“births happen at full moon”) while Alice relies on physiological signs. The conflict escalates when Thomas sides with Nevvie’s seniority over Alice’s expertise, reflecting deeper institutional divides. These clashes reveal how differing philosophies—conservation vs. entertainment, wild vs. captive behavior—shape care practices, with elephants caught in the middle.

      4. What does Botshelo’s wild birth scene reveal about natural elephant social structures that contrasts with captive environments?

      Answer:
      Botshelo’s birth showcases intricate herd dynamics absent in captivity: collective protection (elephants forming a defensive circle), communal celebration (urination, secretions, vocalizations), and immediate tactile bonding (every member touching the calf). The mother’s gentle trunk movements (“Hello. Welcome”) contrast sharply with Maura’s circus chains. Where wild herds facilitate maternal success, captive settings often hinder it—as seen when Maura’s circus calf was prematurely taken, or when sanctuary staff must guess how Hester might react to a newborn. The scene underscores how natural social frameworks support development, while artificial ones create trauma.

      5. Evaluate how the chapter balances scientific observation with emotional narrative. Provide examples.

      Answer:
      The chapter masterfully intertwines objective data (22-month gestation facts, quarantine protocols) with intimate storytelling. Alice acknowledges the “unscientific” nature of her bond with Maura yet grounds it in shared timelines and motherhood. Her research on elephant grief via audio tapes contrasts with guilt over “wishing for an animal to die” for academic progress. Even Botshelo’s birth is first described biologically (sac removal, calf disorientation) before shifting to poetic imagery (“lampshade at a party”). This duality reflects Alice’s dual role as researcher and sanctuary member, where empirical knowledge and empathy must coexist to truly understand elephants.

    Quotes

    • 1. “It does not matter who you are or what kind of personal relationship you’ve forged with an elephant: Come between her and her calf, and she will kill you.”

      This opening statement powerfully establishes the primal intensity of maternal instincts in elephants, setting the stage for Maura’s story. It introduces the central theme of motherhood that runs through the chapter.

      2. “I think we both felt lucky to be there.”

      Alice reflects on her unspoken bond with Maura, revealing the deep emotional connection between humans and elephants at the sanctuary. This quote captures the chapter’s underlying theme of interspecies understanding and shared experiences of motherhood.

      3. “Given that, it was easy to concentrate on the positive rather than the negative: the nights I found Thomas poring over the books, wondering how we could keep the sanctuary open; the pills he had started to take so that he could sleep at all…”

      This passage reveals the hidden struggles behind the sanctuary’s operations and Alice’s personal life, showing the contrast between surface appearances and underlying tensions. It represents a turning point where the chapter delves deeper into the complexities of their situation.

      4. “As if it did not matter that I was supposed to be with him till the end.”

      This poignant statement reveals the growing tension in Alice’s marriage and her feelings of being undervalued compared to Nevvie. It highlights the personal conflicts that parallel the professional challenges at the sanctuary.

      5. “Botshelo put her trunk around the calf and under the calf and in her calf’s mouth: Hello. Welcome.”

      This beautiful description of an elephant birth in the wild serves as a counterpoint to Maura’s traumatic circus experience. It represents the natural, joyful mother-calf bonding that the sanctuary hopes to facilitate, and showcases Alice’s deep understanding of elephant behavior.

    Quotes

    1. “It does not matter who you are or what kind of personal relationship you’ve forged with an elephant: Come between her and her calf, and she will kill you.”

    This opening statement powerfully establishes the primal intensity of maternal instincts in elephants, setting the stage for Maura’s story. It introduces the central theme of motherhood that runs through the chapter.

    2. “I think we both felt lucky to be there.”

    Alice reflects on her unspoken bond with Maura, revealing the deep emotional connection between humans and elephants at the sanctuary. This quote captures the chapter’s underlying theme of interspecies understanding and shared experiences of motherhood.

    3. “Given that, it was easy to concentrate on the positive rather than the negative: the nights I found Thomas poring over the books, wondering how we could keep the sanctuary open; the pills he had started to take so that he could sleep at all…”

    This passage reveals the hidden struggles behind the sanctuary’s operations and Alice’s personal life, showing the contrast between surface appearances and underlying tensions. It represents a turning point where the chapter delves deeper into the complexities of their situation.

    4. “As if it did not matter that I was supposed to be with him till the end.”

    This poignant statement reveals the growing tension in Alice’s marriage and her feelings of being undervalued compared to Nevvie. It highlights the personal conflicts that parallel the professional challenges at the sanctuary.

    5. “Botshelo put her trunk around the calf and under the calf and in her calf’s mouth: Hello. Welcome.”

    This beautiful description of an elephant birth in the wild serves as a counterpoint to Maura’s traumatic circus experience. It represents the natural, joyful mother-calf bonding that the sanctuary hopes to facilitate, and showcases Alice’s deep understanding of elephant behavior.

    FAQs

    1. What were the key differences between Maura’s previous circus birth experience and the planned birth at the sanctuary?

    Answer:
    At the circus, Maura was chained during birth to allow handlers to control the newborn, which triggered aggressive behavior as she desperately tried to reach her calf. The sanctuary planned a completely different approach, allowing Maura natural birthing conditions without restraints. Additionally, while the circus separated Maura from her calf at age two for sale to a zoo, sanctuary staff explicitly promised this wouldn’t happen again. The sanctuary also quarantined Maura pre-birth due to unknown herd dynamics, unlike the circus which forced her to live unnaturally with a male elephant, contributing to her earlier aggression.

    2. How does the chapter illustrate the theme of interspecies kinship between Alice and Maura?

    Answer:
    The chapter shows profound parallels between Alice and Maura as mothers who arrived at the sanctuary around the same time and raised their young there. Alice describes catching Maura’s eye and feeling a wordless understanding between them, despite scientific reservations about anthropomorphism. Both faced challenges protecting their young—Alice from Nevvie’s childcare decisions and Maura from institutional separation practices. Their bond is underscored when Alice promises Maura “I won’t let it happen again” regarding calf separation, mirroring her own maternal instincts to safeguard Jenna. The sanctuary becomes their shared space of hard-won safety.

    3. Analyze how the author uses contrasting perspectives on elephant care to develop conflict in the chapter.

    Answer:
    The chapter establishes tension between scientific/academic approaches (Alice’s wild elephant research and Thomas’s audio studies) and experiential knowledge (Nevvie’s circus background). This plays out in disputes over food preparation, bone studies, and even Maura’s delivery timeline—Nevvie prioritizes tradition (“births happen at full moon”) while Alice relies on physiological signs. The conflict escalates when Thomas sides with Nevvie’s seniority over Alice’s expertise, reflecting deeper institutional divides. These clashes reveal how differing philosophies—conservation vs. entertainment, wild vs. captive behavior—shape care practices, with elephants caught in the middle.

    4. What does Botshelo’s wild birth scene reveal about natural elephant social structures that contrasts with captive environments?

    Answer:
    Botshelo’s birth showcases intricate herd dynamics absent in captivity: collective protection (elephants forming a defensive circle), communal celebration (urination, secretions, vocalizations), and immediate tactile bonding (every member touching the calf). The mother’s gentle trunk movements (“Hello. Welcome”) contrast sharply with Maura’s circus chains. Where wild herds facilitate maternal success, captive settings often hinder it—as seen when Maura’s circus calf was prematurely taken, or when sanctuary staff must guess how Hester might react to a newborn. The scene underscores how natural social frameworks support development, while artificial ones create trauma.

    5. Evaluate how the chapter balances scientific observation with emotional narrative. Provide examples.

    Answer:
    The chapter masterfully intertwines objective data (22-month gestation facts, quarantine protocols) with intimate storytelling. Alice acknowledges the “unscientific” nature of her bond with Maura yet grounds it in shared timelines and motherhood. Her research on elephant grief via audio tapes contrasts with guilt over “wishing for an animal to die” for academic progress. Even Botshelo’s birth is first described biologically (sac removal, calf disorientation) before shifting to poetic imagery (“lampshade at a party”). This duality reflects Alice’s dual role as researcher and sanctuary member, where empirical knowledge and empathy must coexist to truly understand elephants.

    Note