intellectual-versus-sensual

The chapter follows Alice Maynard on a transatlantic flight from the United States to England, where she experiences unease and introspection, particularly about the ocean beneath her and the woman seated next to her. The woman, Felicity Paiva, a writer of sex novels from Nebraska, engages Alice in conversation, revealing cultural and personal contrasts between them. Upon arrival in Oxford, Felicity's vibrant and unconventional presence contrasts with the traditional and somewhat cold atmosphere of Alice's Victorian home.