Theme

One of the pervading themes of the novel  is the ideas of guilt and innocence. Grace is the most obvious example of this theme, as the whole novel surrounds her story of what really happened the night of the murders. Grace tells her side of the story, in which she is innocent, while others have very different versions of what happened. Also a lot of the people in the novel believe in Grace’s innocence because of the gentle woman she portrays as she interacts with Dr. Jordan and the people of higher class around the manner. Though she was convicted, people were still left questioning her real guilt because of the persona she gave off. However, guilt and innocence plays a part in other characters lives as well, like Dr. Jordan and whether is actions with Mrs. Humphrey are morally right, or even his fantasies about Grace. Though is trials are more personal and less public it is still a demonstration of the contrast between guilt and innocence.