Chapter 37: Sold Out
Summary
- Elizabeth Zott is regarded as the most influential and intelligent person on television by the writer Roth who is penning an article on her.
- Roth struggles with remaining unbiased as he has developed a personal investment in Elizabeth’s story and finds himself on her side.
- He reflects on his interviews with various individuals connected to Elizabeth, including her dog, Six-Thirty, who displayed protective behaviors.
- Elizabeth shares intimate details about her relationship with Calvin, emphasizing their mutual respect and rare connection.
- She reveals Dr. Donatti's theft of her research and plagiarism, which led to her resignation from Hastings Research Institute.
- Roth grapples with his own bias and the systemic disbelief in women’s accounts as Elizabeth points out the unfairness she faced.
- Elizabeth explains the importance of chemistry and knowledge as tools for women to understand and transcend artificial societal limitations.
- She criticizes religious and cultural biases, arguing for a more scientific understanding of the world to advance societal progress.
- Elizabeth recounts her troubled past and her brother’s suicide, as well as her parents' neglectful and criminal behaviors.
- She speaks about Calvin's traumatic childhood and his experiences in a Catholic boys home.
- Roth reflects on his privileged background compared to Elizabeth's and Calvin's troubled pasts, leading to a realization about gratitude and appreciation.
- Elizabeth holds herself accountable for Calvin's death and shares how the subsequent events influenced her life choices and beliefs.
- Roth decides to protect Elizabeth’s privacy by not revealing sensitive personal information in his article and focusing on her professional impact instead.
- Two months later, Elizabeth is featured on the cover of Life magazine with an article that distorts Roth’s portrayal of her intelligence by focusing on her attractiveness.
- The Life magazine article includes detrimental quotes from Elizabeth’s father, Dr. Meyers, and Dr. Donatti, presenting her in an unfavorable light.
- A falsehood about Elizabeth’s relationship with her producer is spread, and a family tree drawn by her daughter is misinterpreted, causing further harm to Elizabeth’s reputation.
- The magazine featuring the distorted story of Elizabeth sells out in less than a day, demonstrating the sensationalization of her personal life over substantial achievements.