My Sister’s Keeper
THE WEEKEND ANNA
by Picoult, JodieThe chapter opens with Anna pondering the nature of existence in Heaven, questioning whether individuals retain their physical appearance at the time of death or can choose their ideal age. She speculates that Heaven might allow personal preferences, such as selecting one’s appearance or surroundings, and reflects on her father’s comment about feeling perpetually twenty-one at heart. This leads her to consider how people might recognize each other in the afterlife if they appear differently from their earthly selves, highlighting the complexities of identity and memory.
The narrative shifts to a tense meeting between Anna, her mother, and Campbell, her legal representative. Anna’s mother arrives at the law office, visibly uncomfortable, and proposes a deal: Anna will donate a kidney to her sister Kate one final time, with no further medical demands in the future. The interaction is strained, with Campbell framing the discussion in legal terms while Anna observes her mother’s emotional vulnerability. The scene underscores the emotional weight of the decision and the fractured dynamics within the family.
Anna reflects on a childhood memory involving Santa Claus, drawing a parallel between her disillusionment then and her current situation with her mother. She recalls testing her parents’ omniscience by secretly wishing for a hamster, only to realize they couldn’t fulfill desires they didn’t know about. This memory reinforces her sense of betrayal and unmet expectations, framing her mother’s plea as another instance of falling short. The emotional climax occurs when Anna initially embraces her mother but ultimately rejects her request, leaving her mother devastated.
The chapter concludes with Campbell questioning Anna’s decision, emphasizing the gravity of her choice. Anna’s internal conflict is palpable as she struggles to articulate her stance, leaving the reader uncertain about her final answer. The scene captures the tension between familial duty and personal autonomy, with Anna’s emotional turmoil at the forefront. The chapter masterfully intertwines philosophical musings with raw familial drama, leaving a lasting impact.
FAQs
1. What is Anna’s philosophical question about Heaven, and how does she speculate it might work?
Answer:
Anna ponders what age people appear as in Heaven, questioning whether individuals maintain their physical state at death or can choose their ideal appearance. She speculates there might be an “application form” allowing choices like preferred age, meal options, and heavenly views. Anna suggests people might select their prime (like choosing to appear as her hoped-for 17-year-old self) regardless of actual death age. This leads her to consider the complications when loved ones seeking each other in Heaven might envision different ages (like a wife expecting her 70-year-old husband while he appears as his 16-year-old self).2. How does the courtroom scene reveal the shifting dynamics between Anna and her mother?
Answer:
The scene shows a striking role reversal where Anna’s mother appears diminished (“very tiny, smaller even than me”) while Anna gains emotional authority. The mother’s hesitant body language (aborted hug, quiet speech) contrasts with Anna’s ultimate control over the kidney donation decision. Their interaction mirrors Anna’s earlier metaphor about life’s “soft spots”—their embrace briefly returns them to familiar mother-daughter intimacy, but Anna’s rejection (“I can’t”) fractures this. The mother’s composed exit (straightening her jacket, forced smile) underscores her loss of parental authority in this legal and emotional conflict.3. Analyze how Campbell’s professional demeanor contrasts with the personal stakes of the case.
Answer:
Campbell maintains strict professionalism, referring to Anna’s mother as “Ms. Fitzgerald” and framing emotional appeals as legal “deals.” His clinical language (“absolved of all other medical procedures”) clashes with the raw family drama, particularly when he interrupts Anna’s mother with legal jargon. However, his final question to Anna (“Is this really what you want?”) reveals uncharacteristic personal engagement, crouching to her level and abandoning his usual detached persona. This shift highlights how the case transcends legal boundaries, forcing even the composed lawyer to acknowledge its human complexity.4. What childhood memory does Anna recall during the meeting, and how does it parallel her current dilemma?
Answer:
Anna remembers testing Santa’s existence at age seven by secretly mailing a hamster request, learning neither Santa nor her parents were infallible. This parallels her present realization that her mother—like Santa—cannot magically resolve painful realities. Both episodes involve disillusionment: childhood Anna learns parents can’t fulfill unspoken wishes, while teenage Anna recognizes her mother’s desperation doesn’t negate her own bodily autonomy. The memory underscores her maturation from seeking parental omnipotence to asserting independent judgment, even when it causes heartbreak.5. How does the chapter use physical descriptions to symbolize emotional states?
Answer:
Physical imagery conveys psychological depth throughout: Anna’s mother’s “broken” smile mirrors her shattered hopes, while Judge’s head in Anna’s lap signals her need for comfort. The “boulder-still” father embodies emotional paralysis, and Anna’s throat-clenching tears manifest suppressed grief. Most powerfully, the hug becomes a battleground—Anna initially melts into her mother’s “familiar” arms (symbolizing primal attachment), but her mother’s subsequent stiffness and retreat physically manifest rejection. These descriptions externalize internal conflicts, making abstract emotions viscerally tangible through posture, touch, and movement.
Quotes
1. “HERE’S MY QUESTION: What age are you when you’re in Heaven? I mean, if it’s Heaven, you should be at your beauty-queen best, and I doubt that all the people who die of old age are wandering around toothless and bald.”
This opening philosophical question sets the tone for Anna’s contemplative nature and introduces the chapter’s themes of identity, mortality, and the afterlife. It reflects her youthful curiosity about profound existential questions.
2. “So maybe there is a place in your life you wear out like a rut, or even better, like the soft spot on the couch. And no matter what else happens to you, you come back to that.”
This poetic metaphor captures Anna’s insight about how people retain core aspects of their identity throughout life. It foreshadows her later reunion with her mother and the concept of returning to familiar emotional spaces.
3. “It is hard to believe that my mother used to do this for a living. I guess she used to be someone else, once. I suppose we all were.”
This observation highlights the chapter’s exploration of how people change roles and identities over time. Anna’s realization about her mother’s past self mirrors her own struggle with identity in relation to her sister’s illness.
4. “I hug her twice as tight as I would normally, trying to hold on to this moment the same way I like to paint the slanted light of summer on the back wall of my brain, a mural to stare at during the winter.”
This beautifully vivid description illustrates Anna’s emotional conflict and her attempt to preserve a fleeting moment of connection before delivering painful news. The imagery reflects her artistic nature and emotional depth.
5. “I open my mouth. And find an answer.”
This powerful closing line creates suspense while representing the chapter’s central conflict - Anna’s difficult decision about her sister’s medical care. The unfinished nature of the statement mirrors the unresolved tension in her family situation.