The Wedding People

by Espach, Alison

The Wedding People by Alison Espach follows Phoebe Stone, a woman grappling with personal crises who arrives at a luxurious Rhode Island inn intending to end her life. Mistaken for a wedding guest, Phoebe becomes unexpectedly involved in the wedding festivities, forming a pivotal bond with the bride. The novel explores themes of love, grief, self-discovery, and the unpredictable paths to new beginnings.

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The Wedding People

Chapter 17

by Espach, Alison

In Chapter 17, Phoebe anticipates a visit from Lila before the Blending of the Families event but is met with silence, leaving her to wrestle with feelings of guilt and confusion. She reflects on the joy she experienced with Gary earlier in the day, a feeling she thought was no longer possible for her. Despite feeling unsure, Phoebe resolves to express gratitude to Lila by preparing her maid of honor speech, though she struggles to find the right words after recent conversations that have cast doubt on the nature of Lila and Gary’s relationship.

Phoebe’s internal conflict deepens as she realizes that Lila and Gary may not truly be in love, but rather two individuals grappling with uncertainty and the desire to avoid loneliness. Lila appears to seek a partner to fix her problems, while Gary’s happiness seems tied solely to Lila’s well-being. This dynamic leaves Phoebe questioning the foundation of their relationship and what it means to be in love, complicating her role in celebrating their union.

Seeking distraction and perhaps clarity, Phoebe encounters Jim at the hotel bar, who is also struggling with his best man speech. Their conversation turns into a collaborative brainstorming session where Phoebe guides Jim to focus on the essential question of why Lila and Gary are perfect for each other. However, the couple’s imperfections and unresolved issues make it difficult for them to identify a compelling answer, highlighting the unusual nature of this wedding and the challenge of articulating a genuine celebration of their bond.

As writer’s block sets in, Jim offers Phoebe marijuana edibles to ease their creative process, leading to a humorous and vulnerable moment between them. Phoebe, who has never used drugs before, experiences a mix of paranoia and amusement, while Jim helps ground her with reassurances. This shared experience not only lightens the mood but also deepens their connection, setting the stage for the speeches they must write and the emotional complexities they must confront.

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FAQs

1. How does Phoebe’s perception of Lila and Gary’s relationship evolve throughout the chapter?

Answer:
Phoebe’s perception shifts from hopeful to disillusioned as she reflects on Lila and Gary’s relationship. Initially, she recalls the joy she felt with Gary and expects Lila to visit or express concerns before the Blending of the Families event. However, as she contemplates their interactions and her conversations with both Lila and Gary, Phoebe realizes they are not truly in love anymore. She observes that Lila seems to be with Gary not out of happiness but because she fears being alone, and Gary’s happiness is tied to his ability to make Lila happy, which is currently lacking. This nuanced understanding reveals a relationship marked by confusion and unmet emotional needs rather than mutual love.

2. What challenges do Phoebe and Jim face when trying to write their wedding speeches, and how do these challenges reflect the state of the couple’s relationship?

Answer:
Phoebe and Jim struggle to find genuine reasons to celebrate Gary and Lila’s union in their speeches. Phoebe finds it difficult to write a maid of honor speech because she no longer believes in the couple’s love, likening the task to lecturing on a discipline she doesn’t believe in. Jim, tasked with the best man speech, feels uncertain because he doesn’t recognize the “new Gary” with Lila and is unsure what positive qualities to highlight. Their difficulty in articulating why the couple is perfect for each other reflects the underlying ambiguity and lack of clear affection in Gary and Lila’s relationship, emphasizing the emotional distance and unresolved tensions between them.

3. How does the interaction between Phoebe and Jim, especially their decision to try marijuana, serve to develop their characters and their dynamic?

Answer:
The interaction between Phoebe and Jim reveals facets of their personalities and deepens their rapport. Jim’s casual invitation to share marijuana contrasts with Phoebe’s inexperience and cautiousness, highlighting her more reserved nature and unfamiliarity with such substances. Their playful banter and mutual teasing about paranoia and writer’s block humanize them and create a sense of camaraderie. This moment of vulnerability and experimentation outside their usual roles as maid of honor and best man allows them to connect on a more personal level, suggesting potential emotional support for each other amid the wedding’s complexities.

4. In what ways does the chapter explore the theme of authenticity versus expectation in relationships and social rituals?

Answer:
The chapter juxtaposes the authentic feelings of the characters with the societal expectations surrounding weddings. Phoebe’s internal conflict about writing a heartfelt speech despite doubting the couple’s love highlights the tension between genuine emotion and the performative aspects of social rituals. Lila’s absence and complaints, Gary’s attempts to please, and the pressure on Phoebe and Jim to publicly affirm the couple’s bond underscore how weddings can mask underlying relational difficulties. Phoebe’s reflections reveal that the idealized image of love and partnership often conflicts with reality, challenging characters to reconcile their true feelings with the expectations imposed by family and tradition.

5. How does the motif of writing and storytelling function within the chapter, particularly in relation to Phoebe’s role as a professor and her struggle with the speech?

Answer:
Writing and storytelling are central motifs that illuminate Phoebe’s internal struggle and her professional identity. As a professor, Phoebe approaches speech-writing analytically, emphasizing that good writing is driven by a question and an attempt to answer it. However, her difficulty in finding a sincere question to guide the maid of honor speech reflects her emotional dissonance regarding the couple’s relationship. The motif underscores the challenge of crafting narratives that are both truthful and socially acceptable. Additionally, the collaborative “writer’s room” dynamic with Jim reinforces the creative process as a means of making sense of complex human experiences, highlighting how stories shape and reflect personal and collective realities.

Quotes

1. “It is becoming clear to Phoebe—they are not in love. Maybe they were in love, but now they are two people who are very confused. Very much wanting to be in love, because Lila doesn’t want to be alone.”

This quote captures a central emotional and thematic insight of the chapter, revealing the complexity and ambiguity in Lila and Gary’s relationship. It highlights the tension between genuine love and the human fear of loneliness, setting the tone for Phoebe’s reflections on love and connection.

2. “Good writing is driven by a question, and the essay is the writer’s best attempt at answering that question. So let’s start there, with a question.”

This statement distills a key idea about the writing process, framing the maid of honor speech as an inquiry rather than a mere tribute. It underscores the importance of questioning and exploration in creating meaningful expression, which parallels the chapter’s exploration of understanding relationships.

3. “What do these two bring out in each other that is special, unique? That nobody else in the world can bring out?”

This quote poses a fundamental question about compatibility and love that drives the dialogue between Phoebe and Jim. It emphasizes the chapter’s focus on the uniqueness of interpersonal connections and challenges superficial understandings of relationships.

4. “‘We’re safe. We’re grown-ass adults. We’re not going anywhere tonight until we write these speeches.’”

This passage marks a moment of grounding and resolve amid uncertainty and anxiety. It reflects a turning point where Phoebe and Jim commit to confronting their doubts and fears with humor and determination, symbolizing a mature approach to challenges.

5. “‘He’s good to her,’ Phoebe says. ‘But Gary is good to the cashiers at the grocery store.’ ‘He’s good to everyone.’”

This exchange reveals the difficulty in pinpointing what makes a relationship special when kindness is a general trait rather than unique to the couple. It highlights the chapter’s exploration of the nuances of love and what truly distinguishes romantic bonds.

Quotes

1. “It is becoming clear to Phoebe—they are not in love. Maybe they were in love, but now they are two people who are very confused. Very much wanting to be in love, because Lila doesn’t want to be alone.”

This quote captures a central emotional and thematic insight of the chapter, revealing the complexity and ambiguity in Lila and Gary’s relationship. It highlights the tension between genuine love and the human fear of loneliness, setting the tone for Phoebe’s reflections on love and connection.

2. “Good writing is driven by a question, and the essay is the writer’s best attempt at answering that question. So let’s start there, with a question.”

This statement distills a key idea about the writing process, framing the maid of honor speech as an inquiry rather than a mere tribute. It underscores the importance of questioning and exploration in creating meaningful expression, which parallels the chapter’s exploration of understanding relationships.

3. “What do these two bring out in each other that is special, unique? That nobody else in the world can bring out?”

This quote poses a fundamental question about compatibility and love that drives the dialogue between Phoebe and Jim. It emphasizes the chapter’s focus on the uniqueness of interpersonal connections and challenges superficial understandings of relationships.

4. “‘We’re safe. We’re grown-ass adults. We’re not going anywhere tonight until we write these speeches.’”

This passage marks a moment of grounding and resolve amid uncertainty and anxiety. It reflects a turning point where Phoebe and Jim commit to confronting their doubts and fears with humor and determination, symbolizing a mature approach to challenges.

5. “‘He’s good to her,’ Phoebe says. ‘But Gary is good to the cashiers at the grocery store.’ ‘He’s good to everyone.’”

This exchange reveals the difficulty in pinpointing what makes a relationship special when kindness is a general trait rather than unique to the couple. It highlights the chapter’s exploration of the nuances of love and what truly distinguishes romantic bonds.

FAQs

1. How does Phoebe’s perception of Lila and Gary’s relationship evolve throughout the chapter?

Answer:
Phoebe’s perception shifts from hopeful to disillusioned as she reflects on Lila and Gary’s relationship. Initially, she recalls the joy she felt with Gary and expects Lila to visit or express concerns before the Blending of the Families event. However, as she contemplates their interactions and her conversations with both Lila and Gary, Phoebe realizes they are not truly in love anymore. She observes that Lila seems to be with Gary not out of happiness but because she fears being alone, and Gary’s happiness is tied to his ability to make Lila happy, which is currently lacking. This nuanced understanding reveals a relationship marked by confusion and unmet emotional needs rather than mutual love.

2. What challenges do Phoebe and Jim face when trying to write their wedding speeches, and how do these challenges reflect the state of the couple’s relationship?

Answer:
Phoebe and Jim struggle to find genuine reasons to celebrate Gary and Lila’s union in their speeches. Phoebe finds it difficult to write a maid of honor speech because she no longer believes in the couple’s love, likening the task to lecturing on a discipline she doesn’t believe in. Jim, tasked with the best man speech, feels uncertain because he doesn’t recognize the “new Gary” with Lila and is unsure what positive qualities to highlight. Their difficulty in articulating why the couple is perfect for each other reflects the underlying ambiguity and lack of clear affection in Gary and Lila’s relationship, emphasizing the emotional distance and unresolved tensions between them.

3. How does the interaction between Phoebe and Jim, especially their decision to try marijuana, serve to develop their characters and their dynamic?

Answer:
The interaction between Phoebe and Jim reveals facets of their personalities and deepens their rapport. Jim’s casual invitation to share marijuana contrasts with Phoebe’s inexperience and cautiousness, highlighting her more reserved nature and unfamiliarity with such substances. Their playful banter and mutual teasing about paranoia and writer’s block humanize them and create a sense of camaraderie. This moment of vulnerability and experimentation outside their usual roles as maid of honor and best man allows them to connect on a more personal level, suggesting potential emotional support for each other amid the wedding’s complexities.

Answer:
The chapter juxtaposes the authentic feelings of the characters with the societal expectations surrounding weddings. Phoebe’s internal conflict about writing a heartfelt speech despite doubting the couple’s love highlights the tension between genuine emotion and the performative aspects of social rituals. Lila’s absence and complaints, Gary’s attempts to please, and the pressure on Phoebe and Jim to publicly affirm the couple’s bond underscore how weddings can mask underlying relational difficulties. Phoebe’s reflections reveal that the idealized image of love and partnership often conflicts with reality, challenging characters to reconcile their true feelings with the expectations imposed by family and tradition.

5. How does the motif of writing and storytelling function within the chapter, particularly in relation to Phoebe’s role as a professor and her struggle with the speech?

Answer:
Writing and storytelling are central motifs that illuminate Phoebe’s internal struggle and her professional identity. As a professor, Phoebe approaches speech-writing analytically, emphasizing that good writing is driven by a question and an attempt to answer it. However, her difficulty in finding a sincere question to guide the maid of honor speech reflects her emotional dissonance regarding the couple’s relationship. The motif underscores the challenge of crafting narratives that are both truthful and socially acceptable. Additionally, the collaborative “writer’s room” dynamic with Jim reinforces the creative process as a means of making sense of complex human experiences, highlighting how stories shape and reflect personal and collective realities.

FAQs

1. How does Phoebe’s perception of Lila and Gary’s relationship evolve throughout the chapter?

2. What challenges do Phoebe and Jim face when trying to write their wedding speeches, and how do these challenges reflect the state of the couple’s relationship?

3. How does the interaction between Phoebe and Jim, especially their decision to try marijuana, serve to develop their characters and their dynamic?

4. In what ways does the chapter explore the theme of authenticity versus expectation in relationships and social rituals?

5. How does the motif of writing and storytelling function within the chapter, particularly in relation to Phoebe’s role as a professor and her struggle with the speech?

Quotes

1. “It is becoming clear to Phoebe—they are not in love. Maybe they were in love, but now they are two people who are very confused. Very much wanting to be in love, because Lila doesn’t want to be alone.”

2. “Good writing is driven by a question, and the essay is the writer’s best attempt at answering that question. So let’s start there, with a question.”

3. “What do these two bring out in each other that is special, unique? That nobody else in the world can bring out?”

4. “‘We’re safe. We’re grown-ass adults. We’re not going anywhere tonight until we write these speeches.’”

5. “‘He’s good to her,’ Phoebe says. ‘But Gary is good to the cashiers at the grocery store.’ ‘He’s good to everyone.’”

Quotes

1. “It is becoming clear to Phoebe—they are not in love. Maybe they were in love, but now they are two people who are very confused. Very much wanting to be in love, because Lila doesn’t want to be alone.”

2. “Good writing is driven by a question, and the essay is the writer’s best attempt at answering that question. So let’s start there, with a question.”

3. “What do these two bring out in each other that is special, unique? That nobody else in the world can bring out?”

4. “‘We’re safe. We’re grown-ass adults. We’re not going anywhere tonight until we write these speeches.’”

5. “‘He’s good to her,’ Phoebe says. ‘But Gary is good to the cashiers at the grocery store.’ ‘He’s good to everyone.’”

FAQs

1. How does Phoebe’s perception of Lila and Gary’s relationship evolve throughout the chapter?

2. What challenges do Phoebe and Jim face when trying to write their wedding speeches, and how do these challenges reflect the state of the couple’s relationship?

3. How does the interaction between Phoebe and Jim, especially their decision to try marijuana, serve to develop their characters and their dynamic?

4. In what ways does the chapter explore the theme of authenticity versus expectation in relationships and social rituals?

5. How does the motif of writing and storytelling function within the chapter, particularly in relation to Phoebe’s role as a professor and her struggle with the speech?