Analysis: Blurring The Lines

Although Rachel is very emotional, in the only dialogue between her and Mrs. Pierce she sounds very shy, unsure of herself, not ready to confront and timid.

Rachel Price is a character within the novel who is very self-centered, arrogant, selfish, racist, and independent. Although some of these characteristics go along with each other, others seem to contradict each other. Rachel’s selfishness shows through in many parts of the book. She is typically only focused on her successes and issues, without much regard to anyone else.

She is a snobby, whining girl with incorrect vocabulary. We get this feel of Rachel from the style in which her point of view is written. For example she said “executrate’” instead of ‘execute’, “autography” instead of autobiography, and “precipitation” instead of ‘participation’. When Rachel goes back into the house to try to salvage one ‘important’ thing, she says; "Not my clothes, there wasn’t time, and not the Bible-it didn’t seem worth saving at that moment, so help me God. It had to be my mirror.” We as readers conclude that Rachel is a girl who cares more about her appearance, than she does for her education; she revolves around herself and is ignorant of the rest of the world. However, readers acknowledge that Rachel is the only character in the novel to truly understand that the Price family did not belong in the Congo. She asserts from the very beginning that her father wouldn't succeed in changing the natives, instead acknowledging that the Congo would change the family instead.

“The Ways We Lie” is an essay written by Stephanie Ericsson, first published in the Utne Reader in 1993. The Utne Reader is an American magazine that publishes pieces from alternative media sources. However, the essay was mostly directed toward people who have told a lie at least once in their life and have may have felt guilty about it. The purpose for the piece was developed using original syntax, logical appeals, and descriptive tropes, the purpose being that one should think twice before telling a lie.

This inner defiance gives evidence to Rachel’s determination and individuality. The sweater now represents a sort of barrier and if she submits herself to it, she fears the world of ages and maturity.

, she is giving the readers a way she knows how to describe her feelings. This shows her character because its her describing her feelings in a personal way. The point-of-view of the story helps to characterize Rachel. By the story being in Rachel’s point-of-view, the reader gets first person responses to events.

Another way to deal with past regrets that is brought to light is the idea of repressing that memory in the first place. Unlike her sisters, Rachel Price is the only one who ignores her guilt. After Ruth May’s death and their departure from Nathan, Rachel rarely ever brings these major events up again. Instead she talks about her new life, speaking about her newest boy toy and complaining about the African’s culture. The night of Ruth May’s death, since Rachel is

She writes “Blackouts happen, and it isn't just a matter of being a bit hazy about getting home from the club or forgetting what it was that was so funny when you were chatting in the pub. It's different. Total black; hours lost, never to be retrieved.” (67). This use of imagery portrays the confusion caused by an excessive use of alcohol. A serious matter is revealed because of the problems that could arise due to an inability to remember. The problem for Rachel is that she can’t remember crucial parts of her day leaving her confused about what truly happened. Research professor Aaron White writes “Like milder alcohol–induced memory impairments, these periods of amnesia are primarily “anterograde,” meaning that alcohol impairs the ability to form new memories while the person is intoxicated, but does not typically erase memories formed before intoxication.” This suggest that Rachel’s brain is so effected by her consumption of alcohol that she wakes up with no recollection of anything that occurred the previous night. White concluded that alcohol causes a disruption in the ability to create new memories and the more alcohol consumed worsens the effects. Later in

One way that dialogue helps readers see this idea of recovery is with communicating with others. In the story, Rachel’s father Donald says, “She’s been blaming herself for their deaths for six years. She kept her guilt bottled up all this time and never told anybody… God I hope she is ready to forgive herself.” (pg.149) This shows that talking to others about how you feel can lead someone one step closer to healing. Symbolism is used to help show that pain cannot be kept in forever. The story reads, “It was like she had poison inside her and had to get it out.” (pg. 149) The pain the character feels is like poison inside someone’s system that desperately needs to be removed. She uses symbolism and dialogue to show the feeling of being hurt and how you can overcome

She is referred to as Melinda’s ex-best friend. In the first chapter, Melinda says that she really wants to tell what happened but when she looks at Melinda she mouths the words “I hate you.” (page 5). The way that this affected Melinda is that just this alone can help add to her overall depression. Rachel was the friend that she went to the party with. Just this alone pretty much set the whole mood of Melinda for most of the story. Finally to add to this Rachel even dates Andy Evans which really hurts Melinda until she tells Rachel what Andy Evans did and then Rachel burnt all of the stuff he gave her and ditched him at the prom (page 191). This affected Melinda because she knew that when she told Rachel that at first she didn’t believe her but she came to mind and realized that he actually did do what Melinda. While Rachel didn’t completely negatively affect Melinda she still changed Melinda throughout this

Rachel Marsh, had to be confident on where she stood politically. “I have found my proper place I am sure of it.” Rachel says this after choosing Patriots because she knew that she had to chose a side that supported her, and her beliefs. This is important in the story, because Rinaldi liked to put women in a place of power in her novels where everything revolved around them, where Rachel had full power to make this choice herself. Rachel grows immensely in confidence throughout the novel, readers can easily prove this with the ending of the book with her making the best choice for her, and is no longer Matthews

This badly embarrasses Rachel and leads her to begin crying in front of the class which makes it even worse. At the end of class, the rightful owner claims it, but this does not completely remedy the situation. At this point, even cake and presents will not repair her damaged birthday. Rachel can be characterized as vulnerable, honest, and wise beyond her years.

Rachel grew up in a house hold where she had to grow up really quick. In her early teenage years she witnesses her mom struggle through abusive relationships with her step dad and other boyfriends that came after. She eventually became an alcoholic. By the time Rachel was 13 year old, she dropped out of school to take the role of the emotional and financial care taker of her mother. Living in her

This made it easy to distinguish the personalities of each character. John has many faults, but he tries to do good and see justice served. However, John is willing to do anything to right wrongs which causes a few problems between him and Rachel. Rachel is the exact opposite of John. She is cautious and opposed to killing

The theme of alcoholism is employed in The Girl on the Train to illustrate how drinking problem influences the characters’ ability to make decisions, as well as the individual struggle it brings to each character. Since she can drink in anywhere at any time, Rachel is the prime representative of this theme. Often becoming unconscious after having some drinks, Rachel usually contacts Tom, begging him and saying “Please, Tom, please, I need to talk to you. I miss you” (13). When she regains her consciousness the following day, Rachel feels regret about making such a decision. Furthermore, not only it causes her to make inconsiderate decisions, her alcohol issue also prevents Rachel from correctly recalling what happens during her blackouts. Having