A Corner of the Universe

Central to these chapters is the introduction of Adam and his effect on Hattie and other members of the family. With his wild mood swings from childlike exuberance to despair, and his perceptive insight, Adam is a conundrum to Hattie, who thinks he “doesn’t seem like a grown-up, exactly” (41). Hattie feels as though she takes on a pseudo-adult role in their growing relationship: She takes responsibility for watching out for Adam and is protective of him—while she has never stood up for herself against Nancy O’Neil’s insults, she does defend Adam. Adam makes Hattie smile and disrupts her staid summer routine, drawing her out of her comfort zone. She enjoys his attention and is hurt when he seems to prefer Angel Valentine’s company.

Hattie and Adam share a sense of social isolation. Hattie is more of an observer of life than a participant. Her porch, where she watches life on bustling Grant Street pass her by, is a symbol of that separation. Hattie admits to feeling on the outside of things; different, like “a visiting alien” (71). Adam also feels left out. He is aware that he is a grown man and that Nana and Papa treat him like a child, controlling and scolding him. He is not trusted to be by himself, and like 11-year-old Hattie, is given a non-alcoholic drink during the family dinner. Adam is sensitive to these slights and aware of how others perceive him. He is hurt by the cruelty of Nancy and Janet, and by Nana’s repression. In the 1950s, mental illnesses were not widely understood, and those with mental health issues experienced prejudice and discrimination. Even Mom, though she asserts that Adam is an adult, talks around Adam when she argues with Nana.

Through their different reactions to Adam, we learn more about the characters’ values and beliefs. We see again the stigmatization of mental illness and the resulting alienation and harm it causes. Hattie realizes that Adam represents a flaw in—and threat to—Nana’s carefully constructed lifestyle. Nana values appearances: She has worked hard to be a pillar of wealth and respect in Millerton. Nana and Papa have kept Adam secret, removed from their lives, because Adam reflects poorly on them and does not fit their image. Nana does not want to talk about Adam or include him in conversation. Adam’s ability to figure out the day of the week from any date is “embarrassing” and must remain another family secret. Adam, and to an extent, Hattie’s mom, who married below her social station, represent Nana’s failure to create a model family.

Martin here introduces references to the novel’s title, which will have unique significance to Hattie and Adam. Adam’s secret numeric ability is his little corner of the universe. Hattie, an ‘alien’ like Adam, thinks she also only belongs in her own little corner. But Adam avers that Hattie can lift the corners of the universe, implying that Hattie has the power to see outside the box. He senses that she, one of the few people who relate to him authentically, can explore life beyond traditional social constraints.

In an Author’s Note and supplemental materials, Martin acknowledges that her own family partially inspired A Corner of the Universe. As a child, she discovered that her Uncle Stephen, who died in 1950, five years before she was born, had been mentally ill. Martin loosely based the character of Adam on Stephen, including some details she learned about Stephen when she was growing up. Martin dedicates the novel to the memory of her uncle; she also admits that like Hattie, she was a shy child who had few friends and related well to adults.

References to ‘50s pop culture expand readers’ sense of setting and deepen understanding of the characters. Several other pop culture references play important parts in the novel. Adam is a huge fan of the TV sitcom I Love Lucy, which aired from 19521-1957. He memorizes and recites entire chunks of dialogue from the show. I Love Lucy’s goofy verbal and slapstick humor mirror Adam’s own ebullience. The program is a personal favorite of Martin’s, who describes it as her “favorite tv show ever” (After Words, vi). Meanwhile, Hattie adores the Betsy and Tacy series of books (1940-1955) by Maud Hart Lovelace, who based them on her childhood. The stories feature the adventures of social, outgoing, imaginative Betsy, and her shyer friend Tacy, as they journey from childhood through marriage.

Finally, Hattie thinks that Angel’s handsome beau looks like teen idol Frankie Avalon. Born in 1940, Avalon would have been 20 years old at the time of the novel—almost Adam’s age.