Searching for Sylvie Lee

Sylvie Lee, the first of the novel’s two protagonists, is also one of its greatest perpetrators within the theme of Flawed and Incomplete Perspective. She fabricates stories for herself about her husband, her sister, and even her own identity. Sylvie intentionally ignores her husband’s true nature. Even when her sister, Amy, who is a sharp judge of character, points out Jim’s flaws, Sylvie refuses to see the truth about him. Sylvie works to hide the truth, insisting on her husband’s innate goodness; she is unwilling to admit that her attraction to him has roots in her desire to position herself adjacent to white privilege and her hope to benefit from his family’s wealth. Sylvie also fails to construct a truthful narrative about Amy. Sylvie perceives Amy as inherently more likeable, more talented, more boisterous and comfortable in her own skin. While positive, the story that Sylvie tells herself about her sister prevents her from seeing Amy’s complexities: Amy is struggling, in fact envious of Sylvie and seeing only the worst of herself.

Sylvie’s drive and perfectionism, although defining characteristics, can also be read through the framework of unreliability, albeit within the