Content warning: This section of the guide discusses sexual assault, violence, and murder.

As the novel’s protagonist and one of its narrators, Nina is forced to confront deception and betrayal in all close relationships. Nina opens the novel as someone who enjoys living with the appearance of a happy marriage, successful career, and close female friendships. She hopes to have children with her husband, Jake, soon. Simultaneously, Nina details fractures in the makeup of her life, mainly when reflecting on an increase in the severity of her arguments with Jake. Still, Nina is willing to justify and excuse Jake’s inappropriate behavior to maintain their relationship and keep up appearances. When Jake tells Nina about one of his patients dying from spousal murder, Nina thinks, “I wished I hadn’t asked. I didn’t want to know any of it. Unlike Jake, I couldn’t be detached” (13). Nina would rather be ignorant of humanity's darker, more violent parts while focusing on the good, lighter details of the people she loves, laying the foundation for the theme of Appearance Versus Reality in Marriage.

Nina changes throughout the novel to confront the realities within her close relationships. Without Jake’s controlling and manipulative presence, Nina reflects more clearly about his unfair demands and emotional neglect.