Sara is the novel’s dynamic protagonist and a woman of 30. She believes herself to be an excellent judge of character, a belief that the narrative proves false. She is capable and organized, managing a large staff, demanding clientele, and challenging bosses. Sara’s father is an earl. Her mother was his maid, and the consequence of the affair caused much embitterment to her mother. She raised Sara to share the same distrust of the upper class while simultaneously reminding Sara that she has aristocratic blood. This confuses and alienates Sara, making her feel as though she doesn’t belong anywhere. She is drawn to America and willing to move there because “America seemed to be a more open, forgiving place” than England (104), especially in terms of class distinctions.

Once Sara arrives in New York and feels even more alone, she becomes increasingly desirous to feel a sense of belonging, and this makes her easy to deceive. Though she thinks she lacks Daisy’s naïve idealism—claiming that “[o]ne mustn’t get carried away” as Daisy can (96)—she allows herself to put faith in Theodore Camden’s romantic overtures. In the early stages of their relationship, she craves his attention and company.