Elizabeth tells Harriet she worries that introversion could be a gene mutation, and that both she & Calvin could be carriers (p. 167). Do you think Madeline was an introvert? Do you feel this is an inherited or learned trait?

Book Clubs Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Discussion
1

Elizabeth tells Harriet she worries that introversion could be a gene mutation, and that both she & Calvin could be carriers (p. 167). Do you think Madeline was an introvert? Do you feel this is an inherited or learned trait?

2

I think Madeline is a force to be reckoned with as she grows older. I don’t think she is an introvert like her parents. It would be interesting to see a book written about Madeline as she gets older and how she takes on the world.

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3

I don’t think Madelilne was an introvert. She was just more emotionally mature than most children of her age. I was absolutely charmed by her relationship with Wakely.

4

While I think Madeline was intelligent beyond her years and most interested in
topics that did not make her popular with classmates, she is not an introvert.
Growing up with no siblings, I can relate to her life as an only child. I was more comfortable with adults initially but gradually became more social. I think Madeline will adjust to life with peers, may even enjoy it, but will always value learning and “alone” time. Introversion is a learned trait.

5

I agree that Madeline wasn’t an introvert, just not comfortable with children her own age. It’s too bad her teacher was such a jerk. Had she appreciated how brilliant the child was she could have helped nurture her intellect.

I also think that being an introvert is a learned, but one can be predisposed to introversion because of inherited traits. Kids who are smart, bookish, and not very good at sports, for example, often develop into introverts because their peers aren’t very kind to them because of those inherited traits.