Summary

In Chapter 17, Valerie proposes passing the time by reading aloud to Miriam, who is not in the habit of reading literature. Valerie reads various notable novels to Miriam, such as Frankenstein, Animal Farm, and Gone with the Wind. However, the condition of Valerie’s lungs begins to deteriorate, so Miriam begins reading aloud. At Valerie’s suggestion, Miriam reads aloud The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. In Chapter 18, Lenny tells Miriam and Valerie of his discovery of the children’s ward. He was given information about it from Lady Anne, a wealthy patient from a family of nobles. Lenny and Miriam briefly discuss Hannah Spiegel, whom they know only as a German patient who appears sad and almost never speaks. In Chapter 19, Lenny approaches Hannah with the copy of The Metamorphosis. Hannah has read it before. They discuss the book. Hannah says that in the...