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1. Who is the narrator in chapter one?

The chapter presents a remembered conversation involving five characters--Mr. Shilling, Mrs. Shilling, Lisa Shilling, Tracy Shilling, and Mary Nell Fickett. Later chapters of the novel suggest--but do not directly assert--that Mary Nell Fickett described the conversation to Betsy Goodman (who is the narrator for chapters two onward). Since none of the characters present at the conversation claim to be the narrator at any point, the most-likely response will be that Betsy Goodman is the narrator for chapter one.

2. Why is chapter one presented in italic type face?

The chapter presents a remembered conversation involving five characters--Mr. Shilling, Mrs. Shilling, Lisa Shilling, Tracy Shilling, and Mary Nell Fickett. It is presented as a flashback as it takes place before the primary narrative timeline of the novel. The apparent narrator (Betsy Goodman) therefore must be relating the conversation as if she had been there (she had not) presumably based upon facts told her by Mary Nell Fickett.

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