We Were Liars Essay Questions

How does the opening paragraph set the tone for the story that follows?

Cadence opens the novel with a series of claims, although they are uttered with such an ironic tone that it is clear she means the opposite of what she is saying. By saying that no one in the "beautiful Sinclair family" is a criminal, addict, or failure, Cadence repeats the lies the Sinclair family tells to both themselves and outsiders on a daily basis. To maintain the dignity of their privileged social position, they portray themselves as a happy, successful, well-adjusted family; but this could not be further from the truth. Cadence and her aunts are addicts: Cadence to Percocet, her aunts to alcohol. Not one of the aunts has managed to keep their marriage together or hold down a career. And Cadence, unbeknownst to the others, is the criminal responsible for burning down Clairmont and unwittingly taking the Liars' lives. By beginning the book in this ironic tone, Cadence establishes that her family exists behind a repressive veneer of perfection that Cadence, over the course of the novel, will steadily peel away.

What is Cadence's motive for setting fire to Clairmont?

Cadence convinces the Liars to set fire to Clairmont, the oldest house on Beechwood, because they view it as a symbol of the patriarchal power Harris is wielding over the family. Following Tipper's death, Penny, Carrie, and Bess rile each other up with petty disputes over who should inherit which of her possessions. The conflict escalates into a broader dispute over whether Bess, with her many children, should trade houses with Penny, who only has Cadence. Harris does nothing to ease the tension, instead acting manipulatively by secretly siding with each of his daughters in turn. Rather than show leadership and genuine care for his daughters, he relishes the way they fawn over him to get his support. The Liars feel alienated from the conflict and wish to bring about its end with radical action. Seeing Clairmont as representative of the patriarchal power Harris is abusing, the Liars torch the building, genuinely believing that its eradication will precipitate an almost-spiritual cleansing of the family, reminding them of the relationships that truly matter.

Why is it significant that Cadence gives away possessions following summer fifteen?

Cadence's compulsion to rid herself of possessions is significant because it reveals the guilt she feels for being the only Liar to survive the Clairmont fire she set. In her narration, Cadence refers to her new habit as a "project" to give away one possession every day. Still experiencing the selective amnesia that has led her to block out the details of the fire, Cadence doesn't analyze her behavior: she just gives things away. The reader doesn't know what to make of her peculiar habit until Cadence recovers her missing memories, remembering that medical observers noted her "disquieting desire to rid herself of all unnecessary possessions, even things of sentimental value, almost as if doing penance for past crimes." Once the reader learns that Cadence is responsible for setting her floor on fire too early and thus trapping the Liars inside, her "project" is revealed as a subconscious need to punish herself.

What is the significance of Penny's decision to redecorate her home when her husband leaves her?

Penny's decision to redecorate her home immediately after her husband abandons her is significant because it symbolizes her denial. While Cadence reacts to the sight of her father pulling out of their driveway for the last time by falling on the lawn and feeling as though he has shot her in the chest, Penny reprimands her daughter for showing emotional vulnerability and makes her get up. Instead of acknowledging their grief over the major rupture that has just occurred, Penny and Cadence empty the house of any sentimental objects related to Cadence's father. Going further, Penny hires people to redecorate the home, sublimating her emotional pain into a project that has the dual benefit of keeping her busy while erasing the environment she shared with her husband and starting over. Ultimately, the action helps Penny pretend he never existed.

Why is it significant that Carrie turns down Ed's marriage proposal?

That Carrie turns down a marriage proposal from the man she has been living with for ten years is significant because her decision reveals the extent to which Harris maintains patriarchal control over his daughters. Although Harris and Tipper are Democrat-voting liberals, they are nonetheless prejudiced against Ed and Gat, who are of Indian descent. While their ethnicity doesn't faze Cadence, Gat has to explain to Cadence that her beloved grandfather is a racist. In a heated exchange, Gat expresses his frustration over how Cadence's economic and social privilege blinds her to the reality he and Ed cannot ignore. Knowing her father's prejudice against Ed, Carrie is afraid that formalizing their relationship with marriage risks provoking Harris to cut her out of his will. This fact is particularly significant because after Gat opens Cadence's eyes to her grandfather's patriarchal manipulation, she is compelled to retaliate by attacking Clairmont, the symbol of Harris's power.