The Wedding People
Chapter 14
by Espach, AlisonIn Chapter 14, Phoebe returns Lila’s mother Patricia’s borrowed outfit before heading to the bachelorette party. Upon arriving at Patricia’s residence, Phoebe notices the pervasive presence of raven motifs and macabre art, reflecting Patricia’s somber relationship with death and solitude. Despite Patricia’s initial detachment, Phoebe invites herself to share a drink, sensing the older woman’s loneliness. Their conversation reveals Patricia’s frustration with Lila’s restrictions on her behavior during the wedding preparations, highlighting the strained mother-daughter dynamic and Patricia’s feelings of isolation.
The dialogue between Phoebe and Patricia delves into Patricia’s extensive art collection, including notable pieces like a Warhol and Hudson River School paintings. Patricia’s critique of the hotel’s décor and the symbolic “death painting” above her bed illustrates her sharp wit and her struggle to find comfort in her surroundings. Their exchange also touches on Patricia’s health and the doctor’s advice to limit nighttime drinking, underscoring her attempts to maintain some control amid her challenges.
As the conversation progresses, Patricia reveals more about her complex history with Lila, lamenting the emotional distance that has grown since Lila’s father passed away. She shares candid memories of Lila’s childhood, portraying her as a talkative and open child, contrasting with the guarded adult she has become. Patricia’s candidness about her daughter’s early attractions to older men and the family’s complicated past provides insight into the underlying tensions shaping their current relationships.
Finally, Patricia opens up about her own youthful relationship with Henry, Lila’s father, and the skepticism she faced from her mother regarding his background. This revelation adds depth to the family’s story and illuminates the generational conflicts and social judgments that have influenced their lives. Throughout the chapter, the interaction between Phoebe and Patricia combines moments of humor, vulnerability, and reflection, enriching the narrative with emotional complexity and nuanced character development.
FAQs
1. What significance do the raven sculptures and the “death painting” hold in Patricia’s room, and how do they reflect her character or state of mind?
Answer:
The raven sculptures and the “death painting” symbolize themes of death and solitude, reflecting Patricia’s preoccupation with mortality and possibly her emotional isolation. The ravens are described as facing the wall “like they’re in trouble,” suggesting a sense of guilt or regret. The painting above her bed, a raven perched on a dried-up orange slice, is explicitly identified as a “death painting,” which Patricia resents hanging over her bed because it unsettles her. These elements underscore Patricia’s connection to themes of death, loneliness, and perhaps a feeling of being trapped or watched, much like her comparison of herself to Rapunzel. They reveal her complex relationship with her daughter Lila and hint at the emotional struggles she faces in the wake of her husband’s death and her daughter’s distancing.2. How does Patricia’s relationship with her daughter Lila influence her behavior and feelings during the events described in the chapter?
Answer:
Patricia’s relationship with Lila is strained and marked by distance and misunderstanding. She feels excluded from important events, such as the bachelorette party, and resents Lila’s restrictions on her participation and behavior (e.g., not allowing her to bring a date or give a speech). Patricia’s isolation is compounded by Lila’s emotional withdrawal since her father’s death, which Patricia describes as Lila becoming “buttoned up” and closed off. This tension makes Patricia feel lonely and undervalued, fueling her day-drinking and feelings of abandonment. Despite this, Patricia’s invitation to Phoebe for a drink suggests a desire for connection and companionship, highlighting the emotional gap between her and Lila.3. What role does Phoebe play in Patricia’s life during this interaction, and how does this meeting contribute to the development of their characters?
Answer:
Phoebe serves as an unexpected source of companionship and understanding for Patricia. Despite being a relative stranger, Phoebe’s willingness to join Patricia for a drink breaks the widow’s isolation and offers her a moment of genuine connection. For Patricia, Phoebe represents a bridge to a world beyond her loneliness and a reminder of human warmth. For Phoebe, the meeting reveals the complexities behind Lila’s family dynamics and introduces her to a side of Lila’s life she previously knew little about. This encounter deepens Phoebe’s understanding of Lila’s background and the challenges her family faces, while also humanizing Patricia beyond the role of a distant mother-in-law.4. Analyze how the themes of aging, loneliness, and family conflict are intertwined in this chapter.
Answer:
The chapter intricately weaves aging, loneliness, and family conflict through Patricia’s experiences and reflections. Aging is portrayed through Patricia’s physical and emotional state—her inability to drink at night, her comparison to Rapunzel, and the way her life feels confined after her husband’s death. Loneliness is a persistent theme, emphasized by her isolation in the hotel room, the presence of death-related symbols, and her exclusion from family events. Family conflict is evident in the strained relationship with her daughter Lila, whose emotional withdrawal and restrictions exacerbate Patricia’s feelings of abandonment. These themes intersect to paint a poignant picture of a woman grappling with loss, estrangement, and the search for connection in her later years.5. Considering Patricia’s remarks about her daughter Lila’s past and personality, how might these insights influence Phoebe’s perception of Lila?
Answer:
Patricia’s anecdotes reveal Lila as a talkative, emotionally complex individual who has changed significantly since her father’s illness and death. The details about Lila’s childhood, such as her openness about personal milestones and her early attraction to older men, add layers to her character that Phoebe may not have known. Patricia’s lament about losing the “real Lila” likely prompts Phoebe to view Lila with greater empathy, recognizing the emotional burdens and transformations she has undergone. These insights might encourage Phoebe to reconsider her understanding of Lila’s behavior and the family tensions, deepening her appreciation for the challenges Lila faces and possibly motivating Phoebe to support her more thoughtfully.
Quotes
1. “Just put them there,” Patricia says, pointing to the marble table where the raven sculptures sit, like that is where all the dead things must go. Phoebe puts the bag down next to the ravens, all of them turned around so they are facing the wall, like they’re in trouble.
This quote introduces the motif of death and the symbolism of the ravens, setting a somber, contemplative tone. It reflects Patricia’s attitude toward loss and the way she compartmentalizes grief, which is central to understanding her character and the chapter’s themes.
2. “At first it was just living artists. And then, as we got older, and some of those living artists, well, died, we started to branch out into dead ones. That really opened things up for us.”
This passage metaphorically captures the passage of time and how perspective shifts with age and experience. It illustrates the evolution of Patricia’s art collection as an allegory for coming to terms with mortality, a key concept woven through the chapter.
3. “Tell me, Professor, this is a death painting, is it not?” … “That is undeniably a death painting,” Phoebe says.
This exchange highlights the chapter’s preoccupation with death imagery and interpretation. It emphasizes the significance of art as a medium to confront and represent death, while also revealing tension between characters’ perceptions.
4. “I’m like Rapunzel. Except nobody wants to abduct me. And my hair hasn’t grown past my ears since Bush Senior was our president.”
Patricia’s humorous self-comparison reveals her feelings of isolation and confinement, providing a moment of levity that deepens her characterization. It underscores themes of loneliness and the constraints imposed by aging and family dynamics.
5. “Ever since her father died, Lila keeps herself so buttoned up, so closed off to me. She used to tell me things. We used to be what you might call friends before her father got sick. Not that I believe in the whole mothers-and-daughters-being-best-friends thing. That’s, frankly, unnatural. But I do miss her.”
This reflective quote sheds light on the strained mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the chapter. It conveys the emotional distance created by grief and the longing for connection, encapsulating one of the chapter’s central interpersonal conflicts.