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Alias Grace
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BetaPart XIII, Chapters 48-49Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part XIII: "Pandora’s Box"
Chapter 48 Summary
The Committee, with specially invited guests, gathers in Mrs. Quennell’s house for Grace’s hypnotism. The audience includes the Governor’s wife, Lydia, and Reverend Verringer. Simon is skeptical but secretly wants to be amazed.
Dr. DuPont leads Grace in and seats her in front of them; they are all seated around a large table. He explains that he’s simply going to put Grace into a neuro-hypnotic sleep. Grace seems terrified, but not of Dr. DuPont. DuPont tells her that when she wakes up she will have no memory of what happens, and Grace seems to fall into a trance.
Simon tells DuPont to ask if Grace ever had “relations” with James McDermott. Grace answers in a voice that doesn’t sounds like her own; she mocks Simon. She says that she didn’t sleep with McDermott, but instead teased him and led him on, along with Mr. Kinnear. She admits that she strangled Nancy with her kerchief. Just as everyone is bemoaning Grace’s guilt, as they all had believed her to be innocent, Grace announces that “she,” the voice speaking, is not Grace. Grace did not know anything about it. She is Mary Whitney. She has been there all along, since her death, sharing Grace’s earthly “clothing” or “fleshly garment” (402-03). Mary, having taken credit for Grace’s crimes, leaves.
Grace wakes up, appearing not to remember what has happened, and reports that she was asleep, dreaming of her mother.
Chapter 49 Summary
The men remain behind to talk things over. DuPont appears to be confused and shaken, saying nothing like this has ever happened to him before during such a session. Reverend Verringer says that 200 years ago what happened would have been called “possession” (405). DuPont explains that there have been several cases of this kind, called “double consciousness,” where a “secondary personality” exists that can be reached during hypnosis (405). Simon adds his knowledge of another case. The three men agree that they have witnessed what seems to be natural phenomenon.
Simon ponders his various options on the way home. He cannot possibly write a report now about what he has seen. His professional career would be over. He believes that he’s been tricked somehow, but he has no proof. He does not know what the truth is.
He enters his lodgings where Rachel is waiting for him; her husband is coming home. She wants Simon to kill him so that they can be together. He sleeps with her again. The next morning, when she appears to believe that Simon has agreed to her plan, Simon pretends to be ill and sends Rachel for medicine. While she is gone, he packs his bags. Leaving her a note, he heads for the train station. He decides to go to Europe to tour the asylums there. He falls asleep and dreams of Grace in a white dress carrying red flowers.
Part XIII, Chapters 48-49 Analysis
The climax of the novel occurs when Grace, under hypnosis as “Mary Whitney,” confesses to the murder of Nancy Montgomery and to inciting James McDermott to kill Mr. Kinnear. The people present seem to accept this confession as the truth, believing that Grace has an alternate personality who is responsible for Grace’s actions and her amnesia. The rough, callous, sexually explicit language of “Mary” is very different than Grace’s prudish personality.
This neat solution to Grace’s problem also relieves her from any further questioning by Simon. It also absolves Simon of any responsibility in continuing his failed work with Grace. He is able to run away with impunity, his reputation still intact.
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