Wellness by Nathan Hill Summary, Characters and Themes
“Wellness,” Nathan Hill’s second novel, delves into the intricacies of a modern marriage as it unravels under the weight of time, societal pressures, and personal history. Set against the vibrant backdrop of mid-1990s Chicago and spanning into the present, the novel follows Jack and Elizabeth, a couple who once thrived in the city’s bohemian art scene but now grapple with the realities of middle age.
Hill masterfully explores themes of identity, love, and the ever-changing nature of relationships while offering a sharp satire of contemporary American life and the ceaseless quest for self-improvement.
Summary
Jack Baker and Elizabeth Augustine, who met in the mid-1990s Chicago art scene, find their lives and marriage unraveling two decades later. Jack, a Kansas native, studied photography at the Art Institute of Chicago, while Elizabeth, hailing from a wealthy East Coast family, attended DePaul.
Their initial bond was forged through a shared sense of isolation and a desire to rebel against conventional society. Together, they immersed themselves in a community of like-minded individuals who rejected societal norms, vowing to live authentically and unconventionally.
Fast forward to 2014, their once-passionate relationship has stagnated, and both Jack and Elizabeth struggle to navigate the emotional distance growing between them. They purchase a unit in a building being refurbished into condos, but the project stalls due to protests against plans to include low-income housing.
The developer, Benjamin Quince, a former college friend, reassures them that the issue will be resolved. However, Jack becomes uneasy as Elizabeth’s design choices for their new home seem to reflect deeper dissatisfaction with their marriage.
Elizabeth, now a psychologist, works at Wellness, a research company focused on studying the placebo effect, particularly in romantic relationships. She befriends Brandie, a fellow mother at their son Toby’s school, and pressures Toby to join playgroups despite his reluctance.
When Brandie reveals her marriage is struggling due to her husband’s infidelity, Elizabeth provides her with a placebo pill, hoping to secure Brandie’s favor within the school community.
Meanwhile, Jack, feeling increasingly alienated from Elizabeth, attempts to rekindle their connection. However, his efforts at avant-garde photography fall flat, and he feels out of place when socializing with Kate and Kyle, an open-marriage couple Elizabeth met through Toby’s school.
The couple suggests that Jack and Elizabeth explore the possibility of an open relationship to salvage their marriage, even inviting them to a sex party to observe.
At the party, Elizabeth and Jack are encouraged to reflect on their marriage and pinpoint the reasons for their disconnection. Afterward, Elizabeth encounters protestors from Community Corps, a group promoting a mix of traditional values and positive thinking, and discovers Brandie among them.
Their confrontation escalates when Elizabeth reveals the truth about the placebo pill, prompting Brandie to intensify the protests against the condo development.
As their marriage deteriorates, the narrative delves into Jack and Elizabeth’s childhoods, uncovering the roots of their emotional struggles.
Elizabeth, raised by a demanding and narcissistic father, was constantly uprooted and pressured to be perfect, leaving her feeling isolated and ashamed of her family’s unethical wealth. Jack, on the other hand, grew up with a self-absorbed mother and found solace only in his artistic sister, Evelyn.
After Evelyn’s tragic death, Jack’s parents blamed him, leading him to sever ties and move to Chicago.
The story culminates in a series of revelations and confrontations. Jack’s father dies, and his attempt to reconcile with his mother fails. Elizabeth realizes she has been living in pursuit of future happiness, neglecting the present.
As their condo project collapses, literally and figuratively, the novel closes with the couple watching their investment burn, symbolizing the end of one chapter and the uncertain beginning of another.
Characters
Jack Baker
Jack Baker is one of the central characters in Wellness. He is portrayed as a man grappling with the weight of his past and the disillusionment of his present life.
Originally from Kansas, Jack’s childhood is marred by a strained relationship with his self-absorbed mother, who resented having him, and his emotionally distant father.
The bright spot in Jack’s life was his older sister, Evelyn, a painter who fostered his love for art. However, her untimely death, for which his parents unfairly blame him, leaves a deep emotional scar.
Jack escapes his troubled family by moving to Chicago at 18 to attend the Art Institute, hoping to immerse himself in the world of avant-garde photography. Over the years, his artistic ambitions falter, leading to a sense of failure that compounds his growing discontent in life and marriage.
In his marriage to Elizabeth, Jack struggles with a profound sense of disconnect and isolation. Although they were once deeply in love, bonded by their shared bohemian ideals and desire to reject the establishment, their relationship has grown cold and distant.
Jack’s attempts to reconnect with Elizabeth, both emotionally and physically, are stymied by his insecurities and the widening chasm between them.
The novel presents Jack as a man caught between the idealism of his youth and the stark realities of middle age. His character arc is one of gradual realization and acceptance of the changes within himself and his relationship.
This culminates in his decision to separate from Elizabeth as he recognizes the futility of clinging to a past that no longer exists.
Elizabeth Augustine
Elizabeth Augustine, Jack’s wife and the other central figure in Wellness, is portrayed as a complex character navigating the intersection of personal ambition, societal expectations, and the deep-seated psychological impacts of her upbringing.
Coming from a wealthy East Coast family, Elizabeth’s childhood was characterized by instability, as her father’s political career led to frequent relocations, preventing her from forming lasting friendships.
Her father, a narcissistic figure, imposed impossible standards on her, cultivating a deep-seated fear of failure and a sense of inadequacy. Elizabeth’s desire to escape her family’s legacy and her father’s shadow drives her to pursue a career in psychology, where she eventually becomes involved with Wellness, a company researching the placebo effect.
In her marriage to Jack, Elizabeth grapples with the contrast between her youthful ideals and the realities of her life. She once dreamed of a bohemian lifestyle, free from the constraints of her privileged upbringing.
However, over time, she finds herself conforming to the very societal norms she once rejected. This internal conflict manifests in her relationship with Jack, where she becomes increasingly detached and unsure of her true feelings.
Elizabeth’s involvement with Wellness, particularly in its ethically dubious projects, mirrors her internal struggle between her professional aspirations and her moral compass.
Her interactions with characters like Brandie and Dr. Sanborne further highlight her growing disillusionment with her life choices.
Elizabeth’s character arc is marked by a journey of self-discovery, where she eventually realizes that her relentless pursuit of future happiness has caused her to neglect the present, leading to the dissolution of her marriage.
Benjamin Quince
Benjamin Quince plays a pivotal role as a secondary character in the novel, representing the intersection of old friendships and the pressures of adulthood.
As a college friend of Jack and Elizabeth, Benjamin is a developer who offers them an opportunity to purchase a unit in a building being refurbished for condominiums.
Benjamin’s character is emblematic of the compromises and moral ambiguities that come with age. Initially, he appears as a successful and confident figure, but as the novel progresses, his desperation becomes evident.
Faced with delays in construction due to protests and the potential financial ruin, Benjamin resorts to drastic measures, including suggesting insurance fraud by setting the building on fire.
His actions reflect the novel’s broader themes of disillusionment and the often-corrupting influence of ambition.
Benjamin’s character serves as a foil to Jack and Elizabeth, highlighting the dangers of unchecked ambition and the moral compromises that can accompany it.
Brandie
Brandie is another secondary character whose role in the novel is crucial in highlighting the contrasts and conflicts in Elizabeth’s life.
As a fellow mother at Toby’s school, Brandie initially appears as a friendly and supportive figure. However, her true nature is revealed as the story progresses.
Brandie represents the more conservative, traditional aspects of society that Elizabeth has tried to escape from but finds herself increasingly entangled with.
Her involvement with the Community Corps, a group promoting a mixture of traditional Christianity and positive thinking, directly opposes Elizabeth’s progressive and scientific approach to life.
When Brandie’s marriage faces turmoil due to her husband’s infidelity, Elizabeth’s attempt to use the placebo pill to manipulate her further deepens the ethical dilemmas Elizabeth faces.
Brandie’s eventual betrayal, by exposing Wellness and intensifying protests against the condominium development, serves as a catalyst for Elizabeth’s ultimate realization about her life choices and the emptiness of her pursuit of future happiness.
Dr. Sanborne
Dr. Sanborne, Elizabeth’s former mentor and the founder of Wellness, represents the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of the novel.
As a psychologist deeply invested in the study of the placebo effect, Dr. Sanborne embodies the novel’s critique of modern society’s obsession with self-improvement and the pursuit of happiness through artificial means.
His advice to Elizabeth, emphasizing the fluidity of human identity and the constant change that defines relationships, challenges her to reconsider her beliefs about love, marriage, and fulfillment.
Dr. Sanborne’s character is integral to Elizabeth’s journey of self-realization. His teachings force her to confront the possibility that her marriage to Jack has been built on illusions and unrealistic expectations.
Toby
Toby, the young son of Jack and Elizabeth, is a minor but significant character in the novel.
His struggles with fitting in at school and his reluctance to attend social activities organized by Brandie highlight the challenges of parenting and the impact of a strained marriage on a child.
Toby’s character serves as a reminder of the stakes involved in Jack and Elizabeth’s faltering relationship. Their decisions will inevitably shape his future.
His presence in the novel underscores the themes of legacy and the transmission of familial patterns across generations.
Through Toby, the novel explores how the unresolved issues of the past can manifest in the present, affecting not only the individuals directly involved but also those around them.
Themes
The Impact of Childhood on Adulthood
One of the central themes of Wellness is the profound impact of childhood experiences on adulthood. Both Jack and Elizabeth’s pasts are marked by feelings of isolation and inadequacy, stemming from their dysfunctional families.
Elizabeth, raised by a narcissistic father who demanded perfection, internalizes the pressures to live up to her family’s legacy, leading to a life governed by future aspirations rather than present contentment.
This need to constantly improve and prove herself continues into her adulthood, impacting her marriage as she becomes increasingly detached from Jack, focusing instead on securing a stable future for their son, Toby.
Jack’s childhood, marked by his mother’s emotional neglect and the traumatic death of his sister Evelyn, leaves him with deep-seated insecurities and a perpetual sense of not belonging.
These unresolved issues manifest in his adulthood as a constant struggle to connect with others, particularly Elizabeth, and to find meaning in his artistic endeavors.
The novel suggests that the unresolved traumas of childhood can cast long shadows over adult life, influencing decisions, relationships, and personal fulfillment in ways that the characters struggle to understand or control.
The Satire of Modern American Society
Nathan Hill employs satire to critique various aspects of modern American society, particularly the obsession with self-improvement and the pervasive influence of technology.
The novel portrays a society in which individuals are constantly striving to better themselves, often through superficial or misguided means, as seen in Elizabeth’s work at Wellness.
The company’s focus on debunking weight loss products and its experiment with placebo pills in romantic relationships highlights the absurdity of a culture that seeks quick fixes and external validation for deeply personal and complex issues.
Furthermore, the novel’s depiction of Jack’s artistic endeavors and his interactions with people like Kate and Kyle, who promote an open marriage as a solution to his marital woes, underscores the superficiality of modern social norms and the pressure to conform to ever-changing trends.
Hill critiques the idea that technology and societal expectations can provide all the answers, suggesting instead that these external influences often exacerbate the very problems they aim to solve.
Through this satire, Hill exposes the emptiness of a life focused solely on improvement and the illusion of control in an increasingly fast-paced and disconnected world.
The Fragility of Relationships
Wellness delves deeply into the complexities and fragility of relationships, particularly marriage.
The novel portrays Jack and Elizabeth’s relationship as one that was initially built on shared ideals and a mutual sense of belonging in a world where both felt isolated.
However, as time passes, the couple’s connection begins to fray under the weight of unspoken resentments, unmet expectations, and the pressures of modern life.
The alternating perspectives between Jack and Elizabeth reveal their internal struggles and their growing fears about the state of their marriage.
The novel suggests that relationships are not static but are constantly evolving, shaped by both external circumstances and internal changes in the individuals involved.
Elizabeth’s realization that people are always changing, as emphasized by her mentor Dr. Sanborne, reflects the novel’s exploration of how relationships must adapt to these changes to survive.
The collapse of their marriage, symbolized by the burning condominium, represents the destruction of their shared dreams and the realization that their union may have been based on illusions—placebos that offered temporary comfort but no lasting foundation.
Hill’s narrative ultimately questions whether true connection and understanding are possible in a world where individuals are constantly in flux, and whether the pursuit of an ideal relationship is itself a kind of illusion.