Leaving Time
“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.
Chapter 30: Alice
byPicoult, Jodi
The chapter opens with Alice reflecting on her absence from Grace’s funeral, as she remained at the animal sanctuary to manage the workload. With the staff depleted, Alice and Thomas work tirelessly to care for the animals. Gideon returns after the funeral, and Alice grapples with their strained relationship, haunted by the guilt and secrets of their past year together. She throws herself into physical tasks to avoid confronting her emotions, while Gideon avoids her, their interactions marked by unspoken tension and sorrow.
Alice’s internal conflict deepens when she encounters Gideon unloading hay. Their brief exchange is awkward and painful, with Gideon avoiding her gaze and physically distancing himself. The emotional weight of Grace’s death hangs heavily between them, and Alice’s attempt to offer comfort is rebuffed. The situation grows more complex when Nevvie unexpectedly returns to work shortly after burying her daughter, her presence adding another layer of grief and unresolved tension to the sanctuary.
The narrative shifts to Alice’s daughter, Jenna, who struggles with a fear of abandonment she calls the “Leaving Time.” Alice comforts her until she falls asleep, only to be interrupted by Gideon, who needs help installing a hot-wire fence. Despite her reluctance to leave Jenna, Alice assists Gideon, and their efficient teamwork highlights their deep connection. However, their emotional rift remains unresolved as Gideon confesses he cannot continue their relationship, breaking down in her arms as he admits he doesn’t miss Grace.
The chapter reaches a climax when Alice returns to find Jenna missing, the open door a stark reminder of her momentary lapse in judgment. Panicked, she searches for Thomas, praying he has Jenna, while guilt and fear overwhelm her. The chapter ends on a note of desperation, leaving the reader uncertain of Jenna’s fate and Alice’s emotional state as she confronts the consequences of her choices.
FAQs
1. Why didn’t Alice attend Grace’s funeral, and what does this reveal about her character and responsibilities?
Answer:
Alice remained at the animal sanctuary because the care of the animals required continuous attention, especially with their staff below half capacity after Grace’s death. This decision demonstrates Alice’s strong sense of responsibility and dedication to her work, prioritizing the needs of the animals over personal grief. It also highlights the practical challenges of running a sanctuary, where even during tragic circumstances, the animals’ welfare cannot be neglected. Her choice to stay reflects her selflessness and commitment to her role, even when facing emotional turmoil.2. How does the interaction between Alice and Gideon after the funeral illustrate the complexity of their relationship?
Answer:
Their strained interaction reveals the emotional weight of their shared secret and the guilt they both feel following Grace’s death. Alice attempts to reach out, but Gideon avoids her gaze and physical contact, showing his internal conflict—he is torn between his grief and his feelings for Alice. His admission that he doesn’t miss Grace (“Because I’m not”) suggests deep shame and unresolved emotions. Their brief moment of connection, where Alice holds him as he breaks down, underscores the intimacy and pain between them, making their relationship both fragile and profound.3. What is the significance of Jenna’s “Leaving Time” fear, and how does it foreshadow events in the chapter?
Answer:
Jenna’s fear of falling asleep—calling it the “Leaving Time”—reflects her anxiety that her mother will disappear while she rests. This fear tragically materializes when Alice leaves her briefly to help Gideon, only to return and find Jenna missing. The term “Leaving Time” becomes ironic and heartbreaking, as Alice’s short absence leads to Jenna’s disappearance. This foreshadowing emphasizes themes of loss and the unintended consequences of choices, as well as the fragility of trust between parent and child.4. Analyze the symbolism of the tasks Alice performs (cleaning barns, cutting brush, making medicine balls) after Grace’s death. How do these actions reflect her emotional state?
Answer:
Alice immerses herself in physically demanding tasks—cleaning, cutting brush, and preparing enrichment toys—to avoid confronting her grief and guilt. These activities serve as a distraction, allowing her to focus on tangible, manageable work rather than her complicated emotions about Grace’s death and her strained relationship with Gideon. The repetitive, labor-intensive nature of the tasks mirrors her attempt to “keep moving” emotionally, avoiding stillness where painful thoughts might surface. This behavior highlights her coping mechanism of channeling distress into productivity.5. How does Nevvie’s unexpected return to work after burying her daughter contribute to the chapter’s themes of grief and resilience?
Answer:
Nevvie’s return so soon after Grace’s funeral underscores the sanctuary’s demanding nature, where responsibilities persist despite personal tragedy. Her subdued demeanor (“Where else would I be?”) suggests a quiet, almost numb resilience, contrasting with Alice’s more active avoidance of grief. Nevvie’s presence also adds tension, as her return forces Alice (and readers) to confront the unresolved emotions surrounding Grace’s death. This moment reinforces the theme that grief manifests differently for everyone, and in high-stakes environments like the sanctuary, people often have no choice but to continue working through their pain.
Quotes
1. “Except nothing had happened to Grace. Grace had been the one to make it happen.”
This quote reveals the shocking truth about Grace’s death—it was not an accident but a deliberate act. This moment marks a pivotal realization for Alice, reframing the tragedy and introducing themes of guilt and responsibility.
2. “She was certain that if she closed her eyes, I would not be here again when she opened them, and no matter what I did or said to convince her otherwise, she sobbed and fought her exhaustion until her body triumphed over her will.”
This poignant description of Jenna’s “Leaving Time” fear captures the deep emotional scars left by Grace’s death. It illustrates how trauma reverberates through families and foreshadows the impending loss Alice will experience.
3. “His shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Because I’m not.’”
Gideon’s devastating admission that he doesn’t miss Grace reveals his complex grief and guilt over their affair. This moment exposes the raw emotional fallout of the tragedy and the irreparable damage to their relationship.
4. “I held him so tightly that he could not fall apart.”
This powerful image of Alice physically holding Gideon together symbolizes her emotional role in their relationship. It represents both her compassion and the unsustainable burden of being someone else’s emotional support while neglecting her own needs and responsibilities.
5. “I had been so sure I’d taught her about safety, that she was capable of learning,”
The chapter’s closing thought (cut off mid-sentence) captures Alice’s devastating realization of her daughter’s disappearance. This incomplete sentence mirrors the abrupt rupture in Alice’s life and underscores the theme of parental responsibility versus tragic circumstance.