The Surrogate Mother
49 pages • 1-hour read
Freida McFaddenThe Surrogate Mother
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 8-15Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 8 Summary
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use.
Abby calls Monica’s mother, Jean Johnson, in Indianapolis, who says that there is no family history of health issues. Jean implies that she disapproves of the surrogacy arrangement and that her daughter is altruistic to a fault. The call makes Abby uneasy, but she is unsure why.
Abby meets Monica’s roommate, Chelsea Williams. Chelsea confirms that she met Monica in college and describes her as reliable and responsible. Chelsea thinks that Monica is acting as a surrogate because Abby is too old to have children.
Chapter 9 Summary
When Abby arrives home, Sam proudly serves her an inedible meal. Abby realizes that Monica’s claim to support the Red Sox (a team from Boston, Massachusetts) is odd considering that her family is from Indianapolis, Indiana. She does not mention the inconsistency to Sam, dismissing it as unimportant.
Chapter 10 Summary: “Three Months Later”
Abby tries the Cuddles baby food range, hoping that it will inspire her to think of a brilliant slogan, but they all taste disgusting. Monica has now signed a surrogacy contract agreeing to give up all rights to the baby at the point of conception. In exchange, the Adlers will pay her graduate school tuition. Sam has only recently provided his first sperm sample. Abby is therefore surprised when Monica proudly presents a positive pregnancy test. She is further taken aback when Monica declares that she will keep the pregnancy test as a “keepsake.”
Chapter 11 Summary
Abby and Sam celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary at a restaurant. Declaring how glad he is to be married to Abby, Sam is oblivious to the waitress flirting with him. Abby presents Sam with an apron featuring mathematical symbols. Sam’s gift to Abby is a diamond-studded letter opener with her name engraved on the handle. Sam’s thoughtfulness moves Abby as he remarks that she always complains about paper cuts.
Outside the restaurant, they unexpectedly bump into Monica, who is trying to hail a taxi. Sam is still uncomfortable about the surrogacy arrangement and behaves awkwardly around Monica. He looks dismayed when Abby offers her a ride.
Abby is surprised when Monica sits beside Sam in the front of the car without consulting her. She feels isolated in the back and notes that Monica and Sam make an attractive couple. Monica exclaims excitedly when she sees a new Quentin Tarantino movie poster. Surprised, Sam reveals that Tarantino is his favorite director. Sam and Monica discuss Pulp Fiction, quoting their favorite lines and laughing.
After dropping Monica off, Abby recalls mentioning Sam’s love of Tarantino to her assistant a few months earlier. Shuddering, Monica had commented on how violent the director’s films are. Abby convinces herself that she is being paranoid, reminding herself that Monica is enabling them to become parents.
Chapter 12 Summary
Abby attends Monica’s first hospital checkup. Monica dismisses Abby’s offer to give her privacy while she undresses. Abby notes that Monica does not look pregnant and cannot help noticing that her body is “perfect.” Monica observes that it is a shame that Sam could not attend. In reality, Abby chose not to tell Sam about the appointment.
When Dr. Wong arrives, she asks if Abby is Monica’s mother. Monica explains that she is acting as a surrogate mother because Abby’s “eggs are no good” (96). Monica is tearful when she hears the baby’s heartbeat and records the sound on her phone. She asks for the first trimester screen without consulting Abby.
Chapter 13 Summary
Abby’s mother disapproves of the surrogacy plan, highlighting that her daughter is allowing a “beautiful young woman” to have her husband’s child (100). She states that men cannot be trusted and advises Abby not to leave Sam alone with Monica. Abby defends Sam, stating that he would never cheat on her.
Chapter 14 Summary
Despite Sam’s opposition, Abby invites Monica to dinner. While opening her mail at work, she cuts herself with the new letter opener. As Abby is about to leave, Denise intercepts her, stating that she has not received the copy for the Cuddles website. Abby is surprised when Denise reminds her that they are due to meet the Cuddles executives first thing in the morning. Although Abby is usually highly organized, she had forgotten about the appointment. Denise is unhappy with the copy that Abby has created, insisting that she needs to fix it before she leaves. Abby texts Sam, telling him to start dinner without her.
When Abby finally returns to the apartment, she hears laughter. Sam and Monica have finished eating and are sitting close together on the couch. Abby notes that Monica is uncharacteristically wearing red lipstick and a low-cut blouse. Sam refers to Monica as “Mon” and reveals that she was a math minor in college. Monica remarks on Sam’s hilarious math jokes and refers to him as “Sammy.” She invites Sam to her ultrasound screening the following week and plays him the baby’s heartbeat, referring to it as “[their] baby.” Sam offers Monica a ride home, but Abby points out that he has been drinking. Abby reflects that she will be relieved when the pregnancy is over.
Chapter 15 Summary
Abby remarks on what a good time Sam seemed to have with Monica and asks if he finds her attractive. Sam points out that it was Abby’s idea to have Monica over for dinner and that he was simply being hospitable.
Chapters 8-15 Analysis
Abby’s dream of parenting a newborn baby comes closer to fulfillment when Monica becomes pregnant. However, the price of achieving her desires is growing anxiety and insecurity. McFadden’s exploration of The Psychological Impact of Infertility continues through Abby’s feelings of inadequacy. The speed of the conception emphasizes the fertility of both Monica and Sam while underlining Monica’s blunt assertion that Abby’s “eggs are no good” (96). The protagonist’s unfavorable comparison of her body to Monica’s demonstrates that she no longer sees their physical similarities as positive. Her assistant becomes an unwelcome reminder to Abby that she is aging while Monica is at her physical peak. These chapters also chart a decline in Abby’s professional success, as she makes uncharacteristic errors at work, and her relationship with her boss, Denise, becomes increasingly strained. These incidents provide the first signs of the protagonist’s life beginning to unravel.
The narrative explores Deception and Trust in Relationships as Abby’s initial faith in Monica turns to suspicion. The motif of clothing hints that Monica is not who she appeared to be, as she exchanges her modest outfits and natural look for a low-cut blouse and red lipstick. The dramatic change suggests that Monica’s formerly demure image was a deliberate construct, designed to present a non-threatening demeanor and gain Abby’s trust. Further anomalies contribute to the protagonist’s distrust of her assistant. Monica’s claim to be a lifelong Red Sox fan conflicts with her mother’s claim that the Johnson family hails from Indiana. Meanwhile, Monica’s sudden passion for Quentin Tarantino films suggests that she is manipulating Sam with information she has gleaned from Abby. McFadden also encourages readers to question Abby’s assertion that “[she’s] been lucky in love, at least” (68), and that Sam would never cheat on her. His growing intimacy with Monica, demonstrated in their pet names for each other, prompts readers to wonder if he is as oblivious to his sex appeal as he appears. The symbol of the letter opener further conveys the possibility that Sam may be untrustworthy. When Abby cuts herself on the anniversary gift, the incident hints at Sam’s potential to hurt her.
This section of the narrative conveys a significant shift in the power dynamics between the main characters. In the novel’s early chapters, Monica appears to be in awe of Abby, treating her as a mentor. Her offer to clean up before Abby’s baby shower is even over suggests an eagerness to please, bordering on subservience. However, Monica’s appropriation of the front passenger seat when the Adlers offer her a lift is the first in a series of incidents where she makes Abby feel “like a third wheel” (89). Abby’s view of Monica and Sam sitting side-by-side forces her to contemplate their potential compatibility as a couple. Her isolation in the backseat foreshadows an increasing sense of exclusion and inconsequence. Abby’s powerlessness is emphasized as her dependence on Monica for a baby prevents her from challenging her assistant.
The narrative also delves into the Ethical Considerations in Surrogacy, exploring the contentious area of parenting rights before a baby is born. In these chapters, Abby’s perception of herself as the baby’s mother conflicts with Monica’s proprietorial attitude. Monica’s retention of her positive pregnancy test as a keepsake and eagerness to record the baby’s heartbeat signal her emotional investment in the pregnancy. Her perception of Abby as superfluous to the process is highlighted by her reference to “[their] baby,” directed only at Sam. This growing conflict of interest is encapsulated in Abby’s indignation when Monica requests the first trimester screen without consulting her. The protagonist’s wish that she and Sam could attend ultrasound appointments alone demonstrates a desire to strip Monica of all parental rights. At the same time, Abby must acknowledge that this is “impossible since the baby is literally inside her” (117). Increasingly feeling that the surrogacy was a mistake, Abby is depicted as trapped by the consequences of her desires.
Unlock all 49 pages of this Study Guide
Get in-depth, chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis from our literary experts.
- Grasp challenging concepts with clear, comprehensive explanations
- Revisit key plot points and ideas without rereading the book
- Share impressive insights in classes and book clubs