My Name is Lucy Barton

An iconic symbol of New York City, the Chrysler Building lingers in the backdrop of various pivotal scenes throughout the novel. The Chrysler Building represents the aspirational spirit of New York City that draws artists in search of a new life to one of the world’s cultural capitals. This promise of a fresh start lures Lucy away from her traumatic past in the Midwest. As Lucy confronts her past with the arrival of her mother, the Chrysler Building and “its geometric brilliance of lights” (12) serves as a reminder of the new life Lucy seeks as a burgeoning artist. This reminder grounds Lucy as she learns to channel her trauma into her writing. Lucy credits the symbol of the Chrysler Building with allowing her and her mother “to speak in ways we never had” (44). She turns to the symbol as a “beacon” that represents “the largest and best hopes for mankind and its aspirations and desire for beauty” (76). Despite her mother’s ultimate abandonment and rejection of Lucy, the Chrysler building connects them, as exhibited when Lucy’s mother sends her a card with a picture of the building as a reminder of their time in the hospital room.