The Address

“Why you’d want to take after your mother when I gave you every chance of bettering yourself is beyond me.”

Sara’s mother’s resentment due to the earl’s behavior reflects her experiences with betrayal and exploitation. This bitterness shapes her emotional detachment from Sara, highlighting the societal forces that limit women’s options and influence generations. Her inability to nurture amplifies Sara’s feelings of displacement, leaving her feeling as though she belongs with and to no one. The emotional void in Sara’s upbringing mirrors her eventual exploitation by men, revealing the cyclical nature of exploitation that condemns women to endure and survive male dominance.

“Yet, what she’d read about America in the papers intrigued her. No worrying about using the proper titles. Everyone was called a Mrs., Mr., or Miss. The American guests she’d met, like Mr. Camden, tended to be far less demanding than the English ones.”

Sara’s expectations of American egalitarianism, influenced by favorable media portrayals, become a lens through which Theodore Camden can manipulate her trust. This misjudgment, driven by her idealized view of America and evidenced by a lack of proper titles, reveals the danger of assumptions in forming interpersonal relationships. Her favorable comparison to the English aristocracy clouds her vision of Theodore’s true nature, deepening the narrative’s exploration of The Fragile Nature of Trust and Betrayal.

“Melinda and Manvel were real Camdens, heirs to the Camden money, co-owners of the Dakota apartment. While Bailey was extraneous. A fake Camden, whose grandfather was granted the family name but not the birthright, when he was taken in as a baby.”

Just as Sara feels a lack of belonging, so does Bailey. Bailey is a Camden by name, but she lacks the family’s financial resources and corresponding lifestyle. Both Bailey and Sara struggle with feelings of inadequacy and not feeling “at home” anywhere, leading them to place trust in figures who ultimately betray them. This parallel emphasizes the novel’s exploration of social hierarchies and the personal impact of economic disparities on its protagonists.

“‘[Mrs. Horace Putnam] is one of our toughest critics,’ whispered Mr. Camden.”

Mrs. Putnam’s imperious attitude and sense of entitlement subverts Sara’s previous assumptions about American societal behavior. This characterization exposes Sara’s misguided beliefs about American class dynamics: They are not “far less demanding” than their English counterparts. The discrepancy between Sara’s idealized view and the reality of her environment foreshadows her errors in judgment when it comes to Theodore, Daisy, Minnie, and even Mrs. Haines.

“I’m like the canary in the coal mine. If my vision takes off, he’ll have a stake in it. If not, he won’t have risked any damage to his reputation.”

In the late 19th century, Scottish physiologist John Scott Haldane suggested the use of canaries in coal mines, as they feel the effects of carbon monoxide before humans. Thus, when the canary went quiet, miners knew to put on protective gear, acting as an early-warning system. The author employs this simile as Theodore knows his boss, Hardenbergh, is using Theodore’s architectural designs to gauge public opinion. Hardenbergh’s willingness to use another man like this is an indication of the cutthroat nature of business in Industrial Age America. This foreshadows Theodore’s willingness to allow Sara to suffer to avoid a scandal of his own.

“His sneering tone reminded her of Mr. Ainsworth, from when she apprenticed as a seamstress. Someone who enjoyed wielding power. As well as Mr. Birmingham, with his filthy looks at the young Langham maids. The Dakota was now her domain.”

The presence of an apparent intruder prompts Sara to reflect on the men of her past. She recalls powerful men who preyed on the young women beneath them and feels bound to protect the women in her charge from such men. Sara’s recollection of past abusers, juxtaposed with her current situation, highlights The Resilience of Women. Sara’s resolve to protect “her domain” reflects the necessity of self-preservation despite physical and social disadvantages. Vividly describing the men’s “sneering tone” and “filthy looks” further highlights the power they wield and their demeaning behavior toward women.

“How different Mr. Camden was from the other men she’d encountered at work. He needed no assurance that he was powerful, the way Mr. Birmingham at the Langham had, no tests of loyalty.”

Sara’s perception of Theodore as distinct from her previous abusers highlights her misjudgment of his character. This contrast between Theodore’s perceived humility and the overt aggression of past figures reveals the deceptive nature of Theodore’s charm. Sara does not see how his attentions are like the earl’s attentions to her mother: engineered to produce a particular self-gratifying result. The literary technique of comparison exposes Sara’s vulnerability and sets up a dramatic irony as the novel explores of trust and deceit.

“After being abandoned in her teens without any guidance at all, she had been shown a world of pleasure and fun by Melinda, and it had been a wild ride.”

The comparison of Melinda’s influence on Bailey to Theodore’s manipulation of Sara reflects the novel’s continued thematic exploration of exploitation and the seductive nature of false promises. Melinda’s introduction of Bailey to hedonistic escapes through drugs and alcohol mirrors Theodore’s romantic gestures, both serving as a facade that hides deeper intentions of self-serving manipulation. When Bailey is no longer fun, Melinda abandons her. Likewise, when Sara ceases to be useful (and brings the threat of scandal with her pregnancy), Theodore abandons her.

“Her mother had done her a disservice, constantly reminding her of her blood connection to nobility, while at the same time cursing her bastardy. She didn’t know where she belonged.”

Sara’s internal conflict, driven by her mother's contradictory messages as she grew up linked to nobility but without social standing, exemplifies the theme of The Inescapability of the Past. Her liminal status between nobility and servitude mirrors her internal struggle with identity and trust. This internal fragmentation becomes a critical lens through which the novel explores how past injustices shape present vulnerabilities. Both Sara and Bailey are prone to trust others who provide them with a sense of belonging, something they each grew up lacking, making it easier for those people to deceive them, highlighting The Fragile Nature of Trust and Betrayal.

“Had her mother heard the same words, at some point?”

Sara’s reflection on Theodore’s promises evokes a parallel with her mother’s experiences, deepening the narrative’s exploration of betrayal and deceit. This rhetorical question reflects Sara’s introspection and questioning of Theodore’s motivations. However, Sara reasons that Theodore is quite different from the earl, and she fancies herself a better judge of character than her mother. Such warnings foreshadow Theodore’s ultimate betrayal and the false promises his words carry.

“The Limelight. Bailey’s jaw tightened and her heart raced. Like Pavlov’s dog, she only needed to hear one word.”

When Melinda invites Bailey to their old stomping grounds, a club where they used drugs and alcohol together, the text characterizes Bailey’s response with an allusion to Ivan Pavlov, who studied conditioning by ringing a bell every time he fed his dog. This practice trained the dog to salivate whenever it heard the bell. Like Pavlov’s dog, Melinda’s insensitive invitation initiates Bailey’s conditioned response, a desire to use drugs and alcohol despite her newfound sobriety.

“‘Such ungenerous souls,’ muttered Mr. Camden.”

The irony in Theodore’s critique of others’ treatment of street children highlights his moral superiority. His condemnation of societal shortcomings, evidenced here through critiquing the wealthy party guests’ ungenerosity toward street children, is a rhetorical strategy to ingratiate himself with Sara while masking his exploitative behavior. This contrast between his public persona and private actions emphasizes the theme of deceit and the disparity between Theodore’s outward appearance and the reality of his actions.

“A pen drawing of a pretty cottage, like the kind you’d find in a fairy tale, with some kind of vine growing along the side. Even though the drawing was small, the details drew her in.”

The “fairy tale” cottage imagery reflects Sara’s romanticized hopes and Theodore’s manipulative charm. The drawing’s details, while superficially appealing, represent the deceptive allure that Theodore uses to entrap Sara. This underscores the seduction of his false promises, evidenced by how the drawing’s details “drew her in.” This comparison echoes Theodore’s comparison of Sara to Cinderella. Here, he persuades her to believe in the possibility of a fairy tale come true, so she’ll have sex with him and never doubt his devotion to her until he has finished using her.

“Christopher, her grandfather, had carried a chip on his shoulder all his life because he’d been brought up to believe he was an equal when really he was not. Jack inherited that same chip. To be perfectly honest, she had as well.”

This quote explores the inherited resentment and parallels between Sara’s and Bailey’s experiences of feeling out of place. The generational transfer of disillusionment reflects the novel’s exploration of The Inescapability of the Past. Like Sara and Bailey, Bailey’s grandfather felt like a misfit because he didn’t fit in with the family that raised him, though he’d long been encouraged to imagine himself as part of it. This created a resentment that prevented him from finding real peace and happiness later, and he passed it on to his son, who passed it on to Bailey.

“Her mother had been considered mad.”

Sara’s reflection on her mother’s perceived “madness” highlights the tragic irony of her situation and presents further parallels between their shared experiences of exploitation. Despite her awareness, her overconfidence in her judgment prevents her from recognizing the warning signs of Theodore’s betrayal, mirroring her mother’s fate.

“If Bailey was the great-grandchild of Theodore Camden, then she was also a threat. By sharing the legacy, she might also deserve a share in the family trust.”

Melida’s reaction to Bailey’s possible connection to Theodore contributes to her self-serving characterization. Her attempt to divert attention from Bailey’s claim, even insensitively bringing up Bailey’s deceased mother, underscores her greed and manipulative nature. This moment demonstrates the lengths to which individuals will go to secure their interests, even at the expense of their “family.”

“‘Somehow imagining I’m a descendant of the love child of Theodore Camden and Sara Smythe makes me feel a little better.’

‘Like you belong to someone.’”

Bailey’s longing for a legitimate connection to Theodore and Sara reflects her deep-seated desire for identity and belonging. Though she doesn’t revel in the possibility of being a murderer’s great-granddaughter, Bailey welcomes the idea because it would make her a “real” Camden. She hasn’t felt a sense of belonging since her mother died, a pain she coped with by getting high, which she has given up. Bailey craves an identity of her own, surrounded by a constellation of others’ related identities because it would support her during her sobriety and isolation.

“‘You must fatten up. No more jumping in to help. That is only punished around here.’

‘I know. I realize that now.’ As she said the words, part of her humanity eroded away.”

Natalia tells Sara how to survive the psychiatric hospital after a nurse brutally assaults Sara. Natalia’s harsh, matter-of-fact language shows Sara that must look after herself and stop protecting others. In recognizing this truth, Sara feels that her humanity lessens. However, this is what she must do to protect herself in an oppressive system that relies on dehumanization.

“The Dakota had the ability to do that, to make you feel like you were the only person within its walls, causing you to become desperate for human contact, particularly at night.”

The Dakota symbolizes the Gilded Age and Sara’s internal conflict: It is both a magnificent facade and a source of isolation. The building’s ability to evoke loneliness amidst opulence mirrors Sara’s emotional desolation and her increasing dependency on Theodore. This language, which highlights desperation, emphasizes the isolation Sara feels and her search for connection, even in characters who do not have her best interest in mind.

“A mistake. On the yacht, Theo had said, ‘What a mistake that would have been’ if he’d lost her. An odd choice of words. Whose mistake?”

Sara’s reflection on Theodore’s ambiguous language about “a mistake” leads to a new sense of doubt. This moment—after Luther shows her his matching bruise—represents a turning point for her character. She is newly willing to examine her assumptions and Theodore’s behavior, and this leads to her desire to investigate her past to learn what has been kept from her.

“She was never to trust a soul again. Anyone might turn on you, at any time.”

When Sara learns of Daisy’s betrayal, she does not immediately realize how similar she and Daisy are: that Daisy betrayed her to protect her own family. She feels like a victim of others’ deception until she learns how Theo also betrayed Minnie, and how this prompted Minnie to keep the secret of Christopher from Sara. Having trusted all the wrong people and suspected the equally undeserving, this thought represents Sara’s lowest moment, evidenced by her commitment to never trusting a soul again.

“I live with a tyrant, across the sea from my country. My family is fractured, broken, and I can’t even retreat to the safety of a private home. Instead, we live in this monstrosity, where your lover lives down the hall and every tenant and servant knows that I am not enough. Done in by the man who swore to love and protect me.”

Minnie outlines the many betrayals of her husband, the man who vowed to love her and who took her from her home, isolating her the way he did when he offered Sara a job. Moments like this help to reveal her character’s role as Sara’s foil, one whose experiences and response to those experiences are ironically similar, despite their differences.

“Sara had refused to see the shadows in [Theo’s] temperament or question why his relationship with Mrs. Camden was so strained. Most likely, he’d lavished similar attention on Mrs. Camden early in their relationship, before turning on her when she failed to live up to his high standards.”

Sara’s realization of Theodore’s pattern of behavior reflects her newfound awareness of his duplicity. The comparison to Mrs. Camden’s experience highlights the cyclical nature of Theodore’s deceit. This insight into Theodore’s character underscores The Fragile Nature of Truth and Betrayal and the repeated patterns of manipulation within relationships. Despite Minnie’s privilege, the baron’s daughter had no more power than a poor working-class girl when it came to protecting herself against men’s deceptions.