The Pact
Chapter 1: NOW: November 1997 (1)
by Picoult, JodiThe chapter opens with a poignant moment between two unnamed characters, where a woman reflects on the man’s past selves as they embrace under the moonlight. Their intimate moment is abruptly shattered by a gunshot, leaving the scene unresolved. This jarring transition sets a tone of tension and foreshadows deeper conflicts, contrasting the tenderness of the moment with the sudden violence.
The narrative then shifts to the Happy Family Chinese restaurant, where the Hartes and Golds, longtime friends, gather for their usual Friday dinner. James Harte arrives first, followed by Melanie Gold, and their conversation reveals a comfortable yet slightly awkward dynamic, shaped by shared connections to Gus Harte. Their banter about James becoming a drummer and Melanie’s flustered response highlights their familiarity and the unspoken complexities of their relationships.
Gus Harte arrives late, recounting her chaotic day, which includes witnessing a clerk’s heart attack at the DMV and a failed attempt to sit in detention for a student. Her humorous yet exhausting anecdotes underscore her role as the group’s energetic center. The group’s playful teasing and Gus’s resilience paint a vivid picture of their camaraderie, though Melanie’s persistent concern about the clerk hints at her empathetic nature.
The chapter closes with Gus mentioning Emily’s award-winning painting, sparking nostalgia and pride among the friends. Gus’s unwavering belief in Emily’s talent contrasts with the others’ earlier skepticism, reinforcing her role as a dreamer. The conversation shifts to mundane topics like James’s patient and Gus’s upcoming ticket-buying errand, ending on a lighthearted note that balances the chapter’s earlier tension. The blend of humor, affection, and underlying unease captures the complexities of their intertwined lives.
FAQs
1. How does the opening scene establish tension and foreshadowing in the chapter?
Answer:
The opening scene creates immediate tension through its abrupt shift from intimacy to violence. The romantic moment between the unnamed couple—with vivid descriptions of their connection and the sensory details of the moon and skin scent—is shattered by the sudden gunshot. This juxtaposition foreshadows impending tragedy or conflict, leaving readers unsettled and curious about the consequences. The lack of context for the gunshot amplifies the suspense, suggesting that the peaceful dynamics introduced later (e.g., the dinner scene) may be disrupted by this event.2. Analyze the dynamics between the Hartes and the Golds during their dinner at the Happy Family restaurant. What does their interaction reveal about their relationships?
Answer:
The dinner scene reveals a long-standing, comfortable friendship between the two couples, marked by inside jokes, shared history, and mutual understanding. James and Melanie’s awkward yet warm exchange about nipple rings highlights their familiarity despite limited direct confidences. Gus’s role as the group’s social anchor is evident when the others rely on her to order food and steer conversations. However, Melanie’s persistent concern about the clerk who had a heart attack—ignored by others—subtly hints at underlying tensions or differing priorities, suggesting not all relationships in the group are equally balanced.3. How does the author use Gus’s profession (running “Other People’s Time”) to characterize her and explore broader themes?
Answer:
Gus’s job as a professional “waiter” who handles mundane tasks for others reflects her pragmatic, resourceful nature and underscores themes of time and responsibility. Her chaotic day (e.g., witnessing a clerk’s heart attack, a student’s detention scam) mirrors the unpredictability of life, while her humor about career stress (“prime minister of Israel”) reveals resilience. The irony of her managing others’ time while being late to dinner also critiques modern busyness, suggesting even those who organize lives struggle with balance. This role deepens her character as both capable and humanly flawed.4. What significance does Emily’s painting hold in the chapter, and how does it connect to the story’s emotional undertones?
Answer:
Emily’s framed, award-winning painting symbolizes legacy and parental pride, contrasting with the fleeting moments of daily chaos (e.g., Gus’s tire change). Gus’s nostalgic mention of saving Emily’s childhood crayon drawings—once mocked by friends—hints at her foresight and devotion as a mother. The painting’s professional display also represents growth and potential, subtly contrasting with the chapter’s darker opening. This thread weaves hope into the narrative, suggesting creativity and love persist amid life’s unpredictability, even as the gunshot foreshadows disruption.5. Critical Thinking: How might the gunshot in the opening scene relate to the seemingly mundane events of the dinner scene? Consider thematic connections.
Answer:
The gunshot’s violence starkly contrasts with the dinner’s ordinariness, emphasizing how life’s fragility underlies daily routines. The clerk’s heart attack and the abrupt gunshot both represent sudden, uncontrollable disruptions—one ignored by the group, the other unresolved. This duality suggests themes of denial and inevitability: the characters focus on trivialities (e.g., nipple rings, tardiness) while overlooking mortality (the clerk) or impending crisis (the gunshot). The chapter thus critiques how people compartmentalize trauma, foreshadowing that the couples’ stability may be more vulnerable than they acknowledge.
Quotes
1. “He covered her body with his, and as she put her arms around him she could picture him in all his incarnations: age five, and still blond; age eleven, sprouting; age thirteen, with the hands of a man.”
This poignant moment captures the depth of intimacy and nostalgia between two characters, blending physical closeness with a mental journey through time. It sets an emotional tone for the chapter before the abrupt shift in the next line.
2. “They were linked by the one thing they had in common—Augusta Harte—but Gus had not yet arrived. So they sat in the companionable awkwardness caused by knowing extremely private things about each other that had never been directly confided.”
This quote reveals the complex social dynamics among the characters, showing how shared connections can create both comfort and tension. It highlights Gus’s central role in their relationships.
3. “Gus was a professional waiter, not the kind who carried food to tables, but the one who sacrificed time so that someone else would not have to.”
This clever play on words introduces Gus’s unique profession while characterizing her as someone who serves others in unconventional ways. It encapsulates her role as the group’s organizer and caretaker.
4. “She began to tame her curly red hair. ‘First,’ she said, an elastic band clamped between her teeth, ‘I spent the morning at the Motor Vehicles Division, which is awful under the best of circumstances.’”
This vivid description of Gus’s energetic storytelling style reveals her personality and the chapter’s narrative voice. The casual framing of dramatic events (like witnessing a clerk’s heart attack) becomes a recurring pattern in her anecdotes.
5. “‘You’ll see,’ Gus said. ‘A statewide art champion at seventeen; a gallery opening at twenty-one… she’ll be hanging in the Museum of Modern Art before she’s thirty.’”
This quote demonstrates Gus’s characteristic optimism and pride in her children’s accomplishments. It also shows her tendency to envision grand futures from small beginnings, a theme that runs through the chapter.