The House in the Pines

Frank Bellamy, the novel’s antagonist, is a skilled hypnotist whose power to manipulate others through hypnosis makes him feel above morality. He manipulates Maya’s thoughts to build a relationship with her. Hypnosis allows Frank to cover up short-comings and portray an idealized version of himself. He is deceptive, controlling, and power-hungry, playing with Maya’s emotions to get what he wants. He is older than Maya by over 15 years, adding a further power imbalance to their relationship; however, he lies about his age, telling 17-year-old Maya he’s 20. Frank gaslights Maya into doubting whether any abuse or violence actually occurred by leaving gaps in her memory; he also murders Aubrey (along with a series of other women) to silence her after she figures out that Frank has been manipulating Maya through hypnosis.

Frank comes from a psychologically abusive household. His father, Dr. Oren Bellamy, was a psychologist who developed multiple hypnotherapy techniques, which he practiced on Frank and Frank’s mother, controlling them without their knowledge. This abuse prompted Frank to frequently run off into the woods, where he dreamt up a cabin to escape to in his mind. Frank secretly studied hypnosis using his father’s notes, eventually surpassing his father’s skill. As an adult, Frank kills Oren using Oren’s own hypnosis techniques and then takes over Oren’s hypnotherapy practice, helping clients create safe spaces inside their mind—like Frank’s cabin was for Frank: “I guide them back to the homes they carry inside. I help them build that space from the ground up” (278). He kills Cristina at Cristina’s request, using a similar justification: to help her permanently escape into Frank’s fantasy cabin. Frank believes his work and methods are valuable, helping people escape from harsh realities.

Frank’s appearance is unremarkable, with pale skin, dark hair, and “forgettable looks” (105). However, to 17-year-old Maya, he oozes charisma with an exciting thrill of danger. Maya’s attraction is almost like a spell: “Maya had told Aubrey he was hot, but he isn’t really. It’s something else, some other quality he possesses. A magnetism” (115). This suggests Frank’s allure could be a product of Frank’s mental persuasion and hypnosis skills. Frank uses people’s cherished stories for insight into their psyches—insight that allows him to gain control over them. Frank also uses stories to lure people into hypnotic trances, where he transports them to fantasy worlds he builds through storytelling. Frank represents the dangers of escapism, using imagination and stories to distort or completely erase reality.

Aubrey West is Maya’s high school best friend. This friendship is extremely formative for Maya and the two share many adventures and cherished memories. Aubrey dies at age 17, the week before Maya starts college. Maya’s resulting grief and trauma lead to mental health challenges and drug/alcohol use.

Aubrey serves as a foil for 17-year-old Maya. The two share many similarities, expressed in slightly different ways. Aubrey is the more adventurous of the two and encourages Maya to step outside her comfort zone: from jumping into waterfalls, to trying alcohol and LSD. Like Maya, Aubrey is an outsider: Aubrey is new to school in the ninth grade, whereas Maya feels out of place in both white and Hispanic communities. However, because Aubrey’s family moves around frequently, Aubrey can make friends quickly, as she is “mysterious and intriguing to all, especially the boys, with her green eyes and sly grin” (19). In contrast, Aubrey struggles with building deep connections with peers. The two complement each other and help each other grow.

Their similarities also make them both susceptible to Frank’s hypnosis. Maya has a strong imagination and often daydreams. Aubrey is more grounded, but loves magic and fairy tales, often wearing a “copper amulet” with the “magic words SIM SALA BIM” (45).

While both Maya and Aubrey are intelligent, Maya is the better student and will be leaving soon for a prestigious college. Meanwhile, Aubrey plans to stay home and attend community college. The tension about how their friendship might change is amplified when Frank drives a wedge between them as part of his campaign of abusively isolating Maya. Although Aubrey and Maya eventually reconcile, when they band against Frank, Frank divides them again by killing Aubrey.

Maya’s boyfriend Dan is a foil for both Maya and Frank.

Maya feels inadequate in comparison to Dan. His appearance clearly marks him as white, giving him an in-group that contrasts with Maya’s feelings of ethnic and racial marginalization: “[H]e was tall and looked like he loved to eat, which he did. He was blue-eyed and fair with a short chestnut beard and glasses” (6). Dan’s parents represent an ideal of success—they are happily married and have exciting, intellectual jobs in education and photojournalism. Maya strives to impress them, avoiding talking about her dead father and embarrassed that Dan’s father—a multilingual poet and educator—speaks better Spanish than she does. Finally, Dan’s mental and emotional stability highlights Maya’s insecurities; his sobriety makes her hide her substance use. Dan is following his dream of becoming a lawyer. Meanwhile, Maya is working a menial service job, failing to be a writer like her father. Dan only drinks occasionally and with control. Dan can see Maya is struggling, but doesn’t know the cause. This causes tension and conflict between Dan and Maya throughout the novel.

Like she did with Frank, Maya falls in love with Dan over stories: They share a love for Greek mythology, which brings them together. However, Dan’s interest in ancient tales represents his compassion for others and connection with Maya, while Frank uses stories to manipulate Maya. While Frank tries to take Maya away from herself and everyone in her life to keep her in his fantasy cabin, Dan helps Maya find joy in the present moment: “[Dan] was her Orpheus who never looked back, helping her return to the land of the living” (163). Although Dan and Maya are distant from one another throughout the book, they reconcile and strengthen their relationship. Life with Dan represents a healthy relationship dynamic. His support helps Maya recover from addiction, which highlights the toxic nature of Frank and Maya’s romance, which drove Maya’s addictions in the first place.