Lessons in Chemistry

Elizabeth describes her relationship with Calvin to Roth, touting that they were “soulmates.” She explains how Calvin respected her passion and capabilities for work, a rare thing for a man to do; she also reveals how Donatti stole her research and published it as his own, as well as what happened to her at UCLA. Elizabeth opens up to Roth about her family, Calvin’s childhood and past, his death and the guilt she feels over it, and how his death ignited a series of failures in her own life.

Despite the wealth of personal information Elizabeth gives Roth, he refuses to write about any of it, penning a piece that focuses on abiogenesis instead. Roth’s editor demands the “dirt” on Elizabeth, but Roth denies the existence of any. However, when the article is published two months later, it has been significantly altered: the piece focuses on Elizabeth’s attractiveness and includes quotes from her father, Dr. Meyers, Mrs. Mudford, and Donatti, the latter of whom calls her “Luscious Lizzie.” Mrs. Mudford has further provided a picture of Madeline’s family tree, which includes, among other things, Walter as a member of the family, leading people to assume that Elizabeth is sleeping with him.