The Guest

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-11

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Bodies of Water

Oceans and swimming pools represent a reprieve from the chaos and exigency that defines Alex’s life. She is constantly on the hustle to secure her next meal or a place to sleep, but when she goes swimming she only has to think about her body in motion, and her only objective is staying afloat. Bodies of water are also an equalizing space. In the ocean, no one knows who Alex is or whether she fits into the luxe world of the Hamptons; she can finally let her mask slip. In literature, water is often used as a symbol of cleansing, and indeed, swimming always makes Alex feel better—more powerful, more unified with the world around her. In contrast to her frequent dissociative episodes on land, in the water she feels embodied and present.

Alex’s Phone

Alex’s phone is her lifeline, the one thing she truly owns. Her phone gives her access to men who might be able to help her. It’s a tool she can use to research her next move. Her broken phone gives her endless stress, connecting her to Dom’s messages and missed calls. Her phone is therefore also a symbol of all of the problems she’s trying to run away from. A major moment in Alex’s development is when she throws away her phone. This is a desperate move but an empowering one as well. It signifies her determination to make things with Simon work, to turn her back against the problems of her past, and embrace her hope for her future.

The Hamptons

The setting of the novel represents opulence, wealth, ease, and beauty. But as Cline investigates the setting further, she interrogates how the Hamptons’ representation of wealth is a facade. The mansions become eyesores against the natural beauty of the ocean and the beaches. Natural elements, such as prancing deer, become threats to the development brought on by wealthy people who seek status in an exclusive zip code. Alex appreciates the natural beauty of the Hamptons, which allows her to stake a metaphorical claim on land that she can’t otherwise afford. The Hamptons is full of superficiality and decadence; it is a backdrop to private art collections, manicured lawns, and fake friendships. The Hamptons is therefore an insidious space that pretends to be welcoming but is, in fact, exclusive, unforgiving, and unwelcoming to outsiders like Alex.