Triangle

At the novel’s heart is Amanda Delanoe, whose life appears perfect to outsiders. Amanda exudes success and sophistication as the owner of a prestigious Parisian art gallery. She has a loyal circle of friends, a beautiful home, and a successful career. However, this facade conceals a life shaped by unresolved traumas and failed romantic relationships. Amanda’s mistrust of romantic partners stems from her past experiences with infidelity and deception, yet her polished exterior gives little indication of her internal struggles. Her relationship with Olivier initially seems idyllic, but the reality of his complicated marriage quickly disrupts their connection. 

Olivier also illustrates the tension between appearances and reality. Olivier projects an image of stability and charm as an affluent publisher. However, his marriage to Stephanie is a façade that masks their incompatible desires and lack of intimacy. Olivier’s reluctance to divorce Stephanie reflects his adherence to social expectations, even as his love for Amanda exposes the emotional void in his life. His dual existence underscores how societal pressures can force individuals to maintain appearances at the expense of their authenticity and happiness.

Stephanie’s story further probes the theme of appearances versus reality and its impact on individuals. As Olivier’s wife and an affluent woman, she fulfills her role as a respectable matriarch. However, beneath this exterior lies a woman grappling with her true identity. Stephanie’s long-term relationship with Lizzie, concealed under the guise of friendship, highlights the conflict between societal perceptions and the desire to live openly. Her eventual decision to embrace her sexuality marks a turning point in the novel.

As the novel’s antagonist, Tom illustrates how outward charm can conceal a violent, dangerous reality. His physical description—tall, athletic, clean-cut, and all-American—immediately evokes an image of someone trustworthy and unthreatening. Amanda’s initial reaction to him reflects this perception: She views him as a figure from her past, someone who should be familiar and perhaps even benign. However, as the story unfolds, Tom’s true nature emerges, and it becomes clear that his outward appearance is a mask hiding a much more predatory reality.

As Tom becomes more fixated on Amanda, his behavior shifts from harmless affection to increasingly invasive and dangerous actions. Tom’s pursuit of Amanda is manipulative, coercive, and ultimately violent. His initial portrayal as a well-groomed, educated man—coupled with his familiarity as Amanda’s ex-boyfriend—hides his darker tendencies, including a criminal history, a violent assault on his wife, and a complete disregard for boundaries or consent. Steel demonstrates that what makes Tom’s character particularly dangerous is his ability to manipulate perceptions, not only of Amanda but of everyone around him. When Amanda begins to suspect Tom may be her stalker, Pascal dismisses her concerns, downplaying Tom’s potential threat by stating, “He’s not a cat burglar or a pervert, he’s just a shit” (180). Even the police fall prey to Tom’s manipulation. Upon hearing about the break-in at Amanda’s apartment, they describe him as calm, polite, and sympathetic—much so that they fail to conduct a basic fingerprinting procedure. Tom’s ability to project an air of composure and sympathy is so convincing that it blinds others to the possibility of his guilt, allowing him to avoid suspicion entirely. 

Through its characters, Triangle reveals how appearances and perceptions often distort reality and have dangerous ramifications. Steel critiques the societal pressures that encourage people to maintain façades and emphasizes that personal fulfillment lies in embracing authenticity. In doing so, the novel underscores how its characters must question their assumptions and look beyond the surface to uncover the truth.