The Pact
Chapter 14: NOW: Christmas 1997
by Picoult, JodiThe chapter opens in a prison during Christmas 1997, where Chris, an inmate, is interrupted from reading by his cellmate Bernard’s habit of hoarding ice. Chris is called for a visitor, expecting his mother but instead encountering Michael Gold, the father of Emily, the girl he is accused of killing. Their tense conversation reveals Michael’s conflicted emotions—he doesn’t believe Chris killed Emily but struggles to understand how he missed signs of his daughter’s distress. Chris, wary yet moved, engages with Michael, who admits he came to hear Chris affirm his love for Emily, as Melanie, Emily’s mother, is too grief-stricken to discuss her.
Meanwhile, Gus, Chris’s mother, navigates a mundane shopping trip, her thoughts consumed by the tragedy. In the sporting goods section, she reflects on how her husband’s hobby of gun collecting may have contributed to their son’s incarceration. Her grief is compounded when she unexpectedly encounters Melanie, Emily’s mother, who coldly rejects Gus’s attempt to reconnect. The encounter underscores the rift between the once-close friends, as Melanie’s anger and Gus’s longing for understanding highlight their shared but isolating losses.
The chapter juxtaposes the two encounters—Chris with Michael and Gus with Melanie—to explore themes of grief, guilt, and fractured relationships. Michael’s visit to Chris suggests a fragile hope for reconciliation or understanding, while Melanie’s rejection of Gus emphasizes the irreparable damage caused by the tragedy. Both interactions reveal the characters’ struggles to cope with their losses and the ways their lives remain intertwined despite their pain.
The narrative’s tension builds as Chris and Michael’s conversation teeters between accusation and empathy, while Gus’s failed attempt to bridge the gap with Melanie underscores the enduring consequences of the past. The chapter ends abruptly, leaving the reader with a sense of unresolved emotions and the lingering question of whether any of these relationships can heal. The setting—a prison and a mundane store—mirrors the characters’ trapped emotional states, emphasizing the inescapability of their grief and guilt.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of Michael Gold’s visit to Chris in prison, and how does it reveal his conflicted feelings about Emily’s death?
Answer:
Michael Gold’s visit to Chris is significant because it demonstrates his internal conflict about Emily’s death and Chris’s involvement. Despite the prosecution’s narrative, Michael admits he doesn’t believe Chris killed Emily, showing his doubt about the official story. His emotional breakdown and plea for Chris to confirm he loved and missed Emily reveal his desperation for closure and understanding. Michael’s visit also highlights his isolation in grief, as he cannot discuss Emily with his wife, Melanie. This scene underscores the complexity of guilt, blame, and unresolved grief in the aftermath of tragedy.2. How does the encounter between Gus and Melanie in the store reflect their fractured relationship and shared grief?
Answer:
The encounter between Gus and Melanie in Caldor illustrates the deep rift between them following Emily’s death. Melanie’s initial apology quickly turns to cold anger, symbolizing her inability to forgive or connect with Gus, whom she likely blames for Chris’s actions. Gus, meanwhile, longs to reconnect, remembering their former bond as mothers who shared the experience of pregnancy. The scene poignantly contrasts their grief: Melanie mourns only Emily, while Gus grieves both Emily and her lost friendship with Melanie. This moment highlights how tragedy can isolate even those who once shared profound connections.3. Analyze the symbolism of the hunting/fishing section in Gus’s shopping trip. How does it reflect her emotional state and her feelings about James?
Answer:
The hunting/fishing section symbolizes Gus’s trauma and her desire to rewrite the past. The items—gun solvents, camouflage gear, and animal lures—remind her of James’s hobby, which she now associates with tragedy. Her realization that she never wants James to handle a gun again reveals her subconscious blame: if he hadn’t owned the Colt, the tragedy might not have occurred. The hunter’s image triggers her emotional collapse, mirroring how ordinary objects now carry painful significance. This scene underscores how grief distorts perception, turning mundane details into reminders of loss.4. How does Chris’s interaction with Michael Gold reveal his internal conflict about the truth of Emily’s death?
Answer:
Chris’s interaction with Michael reveals his struggle between guilt and self-preservation. Though he initially suspects Michael of spying, he recognizes Michael’s genuine grief and shared disbelief in the prosecution’s narrative. Chris’s sarcastic remark about the attorney general’s motives masks his own unresolved feelings about Emily’s death. When Michael tearfully insists Chris didn’t kill Emily, Chris is rendered speechless, hinting at his own complicated truth. The scene shows Chris’s duality: he resents being seen as a monster but also can’t absolve himself, leaving him trapped between defiance and vulnerability.5. What does Bernard’s behavior with the ice in the prison common room reveal about the dynamics among inmates?
Answer:
Bernard’s hoarding of the ice illustrates the harsh, selfish hierarchy of prison life. By taking most of the ice before others can access it, he asserts dominance and control over a scarce resource. Chris’s deliberate avoidance of Bernard highlights the unspoken rules inmates follow to avoid conflict. This small detail underscores the survivalist mentality in prison, where even minor privileges become power struggles. It also contrasts with Chris’s later interaction with Michael, emphasizing how isolation—both imposed and self-inflicted—shapes his experience behind bars.
Quotes
1. “If things had gone the way you planned, you wouldn’t be here. You’d be dead.”
This pivotal moment between Chris and Emily’s father Michael reveals Michael’s reluctant acknowledgment that Chris’s version of events might hold truth, despite the prosecution’s narrative. It marks a turning point where a victim’s parent begins questioning the official story.
2. “I don’t believe that… You didn’t kill her.”
Michael Gold’s emotional declaration cuts through the legal tension, directly contradicting the prosecution’s case. This moment of unexpected solidarity from Emily’s father forces Chris to confront complex emotions about his own guilt and the truth of what happened.
3. “How did I miss it?… What did she say when I wasn’t listening?”
Michael’s heartbreaking question captures the universal parental anguish of hindsight. This quote represents the chapter’s exploration of grief, regret, and the desperate search for understanding after tragedy.
4. “You know, I’m not sorry, after all.”
Melanie’s cold confrontation with Gus in the store reveals the irreversible damage to their friendship. This brief exchange powerfully demonstrates how grief can transform relationships, turning former confidants into strangers filled with resentment.
5. “You aren’t the only one who was hurt… Melanie grieved for one person, whereas Gus grieved for two.”
This internal monologue from Gus captures the complex layers of loss in the story - not just the death of Emily, but the collateral damage to relationships among the living. It highlights how tragedy creates multiple, competing griefs.