76 pages 2 hours read

Margaret Atwood

Alias Grace

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Part IX, Chapters 32-37

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part IX: "Hearts and Gizzards"

Chapter 32 Summary

Simon attempts to fill in some of the housekeeping gaps at his lodgings, but the house falls apart. Mrs. Humphrey makes breakfast, but she does not clean or do laundry. The heat of the summer makes everything seem dirtier. Other than breakfast, there are no regular meals, so Simon takes most of his meals at the inn.

Simon finds Mrs. Humphrey’s gratitude annoying. He does not find her attractive, but he imagines her naked. Mrs. Humphrey cannot cope. She spends a lot of time lying down in a dark room. She cannot be expected to do the cooking or cleaning, and she cannot seem to find anyone to come and work there, because Dora spread rumors about her around town. Occasionally, Simon attempts to feed Mrs. Humphrey so she doesn’t starve to death. He buys a chicken and cooks it for dinner, though he has never done such a thing before. Simon imagines asking Grace for housekeeping advice, but immediately dismisses the idea, because it would make him seem less authoritative.

Simon is losing his drive and focus. A stomach ailment causes him to dose himself with laudanum, which makes things worse. He only feels better when he’s with Grace. However, he finds that he cannot pay attention and remember the details of her story, just as they approach the most important part: the murders.

Related Titles

By Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

Backdrop Addresses Cowboy

Margaret Atwood

Backdrop Addresses Cowboy

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

Cat's Eye

Margaret Atwood

Cat's Eye

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

Death By Landscape

Margaret Atwood

Death By Landscape

Margaret Atwood

Teaching Guide + Study Guide

logo

Hag-Seed

Margaret Atwood

Hag-Seed: William Shakespeare's The Tempest Retold

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

Happy Endings

Margaret Atwood

Happy Endings

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

Helen of Troy Does Countertop Dancing

Margaret Atwood

Helen of Troy Does Countertop Dancing

Margaret Atwood

Plot Summary

logo

Lady Oracle

Margaret Atwood

Lady Oracle

Margaret Atwood

Plot Summary

logo

Life Before Man

Margaret Atwood

Life Before Man

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

MaddAddam

Margaret Atwood

MaddAddam

Margaret Atwood

Plot Summary

logo

Rape Fantasies

Margaret Atwood

Rape Fantasies

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

Stone Mattress

Margaret Atwood

Stone Mattress

Margaret Atwood

Plot Summary

logo

Surfacing

Margaret Atwood

Surfacing

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

The Blind Assassin

Margaret Atwood

The Blind Assassin

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

The Circle Game

Margaret Atwood

The Circle Game

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

The Edible Woman

Margaret Atwood

The Edible Woman

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

The Heart Goes Last

Margaret Atwood

The Heart Goes Last

Margaret Atwood

Study Guide

logo

The Landlady

Margaret Atwood

The Landlady

Margaret Atwood