Lessons in Chemistry

Elizabeth Zott is the protagonist of the book. A former chemist, she becomes a single mother at the age of 30 and begins to work as a television chef on the TV show Supper at Six, which soon becomes extremely popular. Elizabeth is extremely attractive and intelligent, with the former sometimes interfering with other people’s recognition of the latter. She is romantically involved with Calvin Evans, with whom she has a daughter, Madeline, although Calvin dies before Madeline is born. 

After Madeline’s birth, Elizabeth’s family consists of Madeline, her dog Six-Thirty, and her neighbor Harriet, who helps watch Madeline while Elizabeth works. She has no other relatives to speak of, as her older brother died by suicide when she was young, and she is estranged from her parents. Elizabeth also forms a close friendship with Walter, who is her producer at KCTV and the one who comes up Supper at Six.

Elizabeth is brilliant and headstrong when it comes to her work, qualities which work against her in the initial part of her career. Donatti despises Elizabeth for being smart and opinionated and actively works to sideline her and break down her self-esteem. Nevertheless, he cannot help acknowledge, albeit to himself, that after Calvin, Elizabeth is one of only other truly talented scientists at Hastings.