Heather
asked:
Does anyone else notice Nath's obsession with hard boiled eggs? There is obviously a connection to the cookbook, & Marilyn learning how to make an egg "behave" in 6 different ways, but what is it with this kid & his eggs?!? I'm also familiar with the traditional symbols of fertility associated with the egg, but why do you think they have to be hard boiled?
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Judy
The eggs are related to Marilyn as they are her ties to being a good housewife and fitting into the societal mold for women in the 1970s. The specific style of eggs that Nath loved is proof that Marilyn fits in the image of being a good and loving housewife and mother. Hard boiled eggs are also the most "solid" form of eggs that you can make, and it is a physical manifestation of the love and attention that Nath desires from Marilyn. It's important that Nath loves hard boiled eggs since they are solid whites and yolk; the two components don't mix as they do scrambled or otherwise, which may allude to the idea that Lydia's preference for scrambled and eggs as a binding agent in food recipes shows the contrast in how James and Marilyn builds their relationship with their children.
Tressa
The eggs were a token of his more content life before Marilyn left them to fend for themselves. He had a SAHM who cooked homemade meals for her family and was there when they returned home from school. And, I also think the author chose hard boiled because of their solid nature.
Heather
Thank you, ladies, for your valuable insight. I am surprised that I couldn’t figure this out for myself, having taken classes pertaining to women’s literature & the evolution in our roles throughout the centuries. I am now motivated to join a Book of the Month club, so I can share my thoughts on what I’m reading &, most important of all, learn about what I’m missing, from brilliant people such as yourself! 😊
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