I feel as though Faraday had split personality disorder. He was so adamant about diagnosing "nervous disorders" that it seemed he was projecting his own mental illness onto the Ayres. Of course, Roderick was actually mentally ill, but I immediately got PTSD vibes from him and nothing more. He did his best to convince Caroline that she was also ill directly after she called off the wedding, and reacted in extreme anger and persistence when she wouldn't succumb to his manipulations. His personality was so "good cop bad cop" and the change would be so sudden that it really was like reading from two different characters.
I firmly believe Faraday killed Caroline, just like he killed Gyp, took Roderick away, and convinced Mrs. Aryes that she was so incredibly ill that she destroyed herself. When he couldn't control Caroline, he destroyed her too. And, ultimately, got what he wanted all along; the house.
What is your interpretation?
by Giraffemakinfriends
2 Comments
Spoilers…
I thought there was a ghost in the house. Then my girlfriend read it and said the protagonist was an unreliable narrator and actually he was behind everything. When she laid out the case, everything made sense and I kicked myself for not seeing it. This was a few years ago so I can’t remember the details, but basically, all the bad stuff happens when he’s around, and some of the things he says don’t make sense, which suggests he’s lying. Then there was a passage very near the end where he basically admits it. Sorry, but it’s been so long since I’ve read it.
Anyway, my favourite book of hers is Fingersmith, which is brilliant.
I’ve read this book a few times and it’s one of my favorites. I agree that Faraday is an unreliable narrator but the book is written in such a way that every character could conceivably be the one making the mischief. Roderick seems to be behind the fires, Mrs Ayers is undoubtedly hurting herself, Betty is in the right place for some of the speaking tube mischief; even the visiting little girl was tormenting the dog. The best bit is that when Caroline jumps of the banister and cries out, “You!” Faraday is in his car and imagines himself crossing the park to the house. Him seeing his own face in the mirror suggested to me that he did go to Hundreds that night, but still, Caroline had a new life ahead of her and why would she jump. My favorite part is Faraday’s increasing desperation when Caroline calls off the ‘engagement’. I love the bit where he goes to the lawyer’s house and tries to get her committed. Overall, this is a book about crumbling class boundaries and people who exist on the periphery of their own class (as symbolized by the destruction of the wall) but what makes it so fun is the unreliability of every character and the constant guessing game.