The Giver of Stars
Chapter 27: Twenty-seven
by Moyes, JojoThe chapter opens with Baileyville returning to normal after the dramatic trial, leaving little evidence of the event beyond muddy tracks and discarded wrappers. Kathleen, Beth, and Izzy accompany Verna back to her cabin, where she remains silent about her pregnancy’s paternity. Their parting is marked by unspoken understanding, as they doubt they’ll hear from her again. The scene shifts to Margery and Sven, who share a quiet moment in bed with their baby, Virginia. Sven suggests relocating for a fresh start, but Margery insists on staying, valuing the community and friendships they’ve built in Baileyville. Their tender exchange underscores their deep bond and commitment to each other.
Alice grapples with mixed emotions as Margery’s homecoming signals her own impending departure. While she outwardly celebrates with the other librarians, inwardly she feels a growing heaviness, realizing her time in Kentucky is over. Fred notices her distress and invites her for a bourbon at his house. Their conversation is strained, both acutely aware of the limited time left. Alice reflects on the impossibility of their relationship, feeling guilty for allowing their connection to deepen despite the inevitable separation. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken sorrow as they struggle to navigate their farewell.
Fred hands Alice a letter from her mother, which she initially avoids reading. When he insists, the letter reveals her family’s disapproval and desire to move past her perceived embarrassment. Fred is angered by the dismissive tone, especially when he learns Alice never disclosed Van Cleve’s abuse to her family. This moment highlights the emotional gulf between Alice’s past and present, as well as Fred’s protective instincts. Their interaction underscores the clash between Alice’s constrained upbringing and the freedom she found in Baileyville, making her departure even more painful.
The chapter closes with Alice and Fred’s unresolved tension, their feelings muted by the inevitability of her departure. The letter serves as a stark reminder of the life awaiting her, contrasting sharply with the warmth and acceptance she experienced in Baileyville. As the clock ticks toward her train’s departure, both characters are left grappling with unspoken words and unmet desires, encapsulating the bittersweet nature of their relationship and Alice’s reluctant return to her old world.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter depict the aftermath of the trial in Baileyville, and what does this reveal about the town’s character?
Answer:
The chapter shows Baileyville quickly returning to normal after the trial, with the temporary visitors leaving behind only “muddy tracks and empty food wrappers” as evidence of the event. This rapid return to routine reveals the town’s resilient and insular nature—outsiders come for spectacle but don’t linger, while locals resume their lives unchanged. The description of headlines becoming “firelighters” underscores how fleeting external attention is in a community that operates on its own rhythms and priorities.2. Analyze Margery’s decision to stay in Baileyville despite Sven’s offer to relocate. What does this reveal about her growth and priorities?
Answer:
Margery’s refusal to leave demonstrates her evolved understanding of community and belonging. Earlier, she valued isolation (reflected in her mother’s warnings), but now she prioritizes the “real friends” who supported her during the trial. Her statement—”as long as she’s got those, she’ll be okay”—shows she equates safety with relationships rather than geography. This marks a shift from self-reliance to trusting collective support, especially for her daughter Virginia’s future. Sven’s acceptance (“Any place that has you and Virginia…”) reinforces their shared commitment to chosen family over escape.3. How does Alice’s emotional state contrast with the celebratory mood of the other characters, and what drives this disparity?
Answer:
While others rejoice over Margery’s return, Alice feels a “cold stone” of dread because Margery’s freedom means her own departure is inevitable. The imagery of “calcify[ing] by inches” captures her paralysis in facing a future she resents—returning to England under familial pressure. Fred mirrors her pain, highlighting their unspoken bond. This contrast emphasizes Alice’s isolation: her joy for Margery is genuine, but it underscores her lack of agency in her own life, exacerbated by her mother’s dismissive letter (“embarrass our family”).4. Interpret the significance of the letter from Alice’s mother. How does it reflect broader themes in the chapter?
Answer:
The letter symbolizes the oppressive expectations Alice flees—her mother’s focus on social appearances (“embarrass our family”) clashes with Alice’s hard-won independence in Kentucky. Fred’s reaction (“Did you tell them Van Cleve beat you?”) exposes the disconnect between Alice’s lived trauma and her family’s willful ignorance. This moment ties to the chapter’s theme of chosen versus imposed belonging: while Margery chooses her community, Alice is forced back into a life that denies her truth, making her departure a surrender rather than a resolution.5. Evaluate how the chapter uses sensory details to convey emotional states. Provide two examples.
Answer:
- Margery’s contentment: The “owls and crickets calling into the darkness” and Sven’s hand on her hip create a tactile, auditory sense of peace, mirroring her “easy rhythm” of heartbeats after turmoil.
- Alice’s despair: The “brisk wind and spitting rain” outside Fred’s house mirror her inner turmoil, while the “clock ticking on the mantel” audibly underscores her dwindling time. These details externalize emotions, making transitions (Margery’s stability vs. Alice’s upheaval) viscerally tangible.
- Margery’s contentment: The “owls and crickets calling into the darkness” and Sven’s hand on her hip create a tactile, auditory sense of peace, mirroring her “easy rhythm” of heartbeats after turmoil.
Quotes
1. “Up in this high air you breathed easily, drawing in a vital assurance and lightness of heart. In the highlands you woke up in the morning and thought: Here I am, where I ought to be.”
This opening epigraph from Karen Blixen sets the thematic tone for the chapter, contrasting the peace of the mountains with the turmoil of the trial’s aftermath. It foreshadows Margery’s decision to stay rooted in her homeland despite opportunities to leave.
2. “But it turns out we have real friends here, Sven. People who have our backs. I’ve thought about it, and as long as she’s got those, she’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.”
Margery’s declaration to Sven represents the chapter’s central theme of community and belonging. This moment marks her character’s resolution to stay in Baileyville, valuing deep connections over geographical freedom.
3. “Any place that has you and Virginia is agreeable to me.”
Sven’s simple yet profound response encapsulates the chapter’s exploration of love and commitment. This line demonstrates how his priorities have shifted entirely to his newfound family, regardless of location.
4. “It had been shocking to Alice how quickly her feelings of delight and elation at Margery’s return home had turned to cold stone as she grasped that this meant there was no longer a single obstacle left to her own immediate departure.”
This internal reflection captures Alice’s painful realization about her impending departure. The quote marks a key emotional turning point where celebration gives way to the bittersweet reality of endings and goodbyes.
5. “We will endeavor to forget your latest efforts to embarrass our family.”
The harsh letter from Alice’s mother highlights the contrasting values between Alice’s found family in Kentucky and her biological family’s rigid expectations. This quote underscores the emotional cost of Alice’s personal growth and independence.