62 pages • 2 hours read
Nita ProseThe Maid
Nita ProseFiction | Novel | AdultA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
The story is told in first person point of view, using Molly’s voice and distinctive way of speaking. How does this narrative choice impact the story?
What is the effect of the author’s use of the present tense throughout most of the novel? Does it create a sense of immediacy? How does it impact what the reader can know?
How does the story meet or defy the conventions of the detective genre?
Explore the idea of being the same in different ways. How is that possible? What does it mean?
Giselle takes a different direction from Molly, allowing herself to be infantilized by men in exchange for security and luxury. Do you think that she has grown up by the end of the story? Why or why not? If not, can she ever be happy in her chosen life? How?
Many fairytales follow the archetypal maiden’s, or Coming-of-Age, story arc. Can you think of some? What about other contemporary stories or movies? How do they compare to Molly’s story?
Can the truth really be subjective? What about justice? How would the world work if everybody had their version of the truth?
Was it fair for Molly’s grandmother to ask her to help her die? Did it set Molly up for her later problems? Do you think that Gran applied undue pressure on Molly?
When Rodney looks at Molly across the courtroom and appears to be seeing her for the first time, what is he seeing that he missed before?
Molly states at the end that she has a clean conscience even though she has lied to everyone—by omission or implication—shielding a murderer and framing someone else for the crime. Should she feel guilty? What does it mean that she does not? When might Vigilante Justice be justified?
Unlock all 62 pages of this Study GuidePlus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
