George Clare

Though much of the novel centers around George, he can be considered the antagonist of the text. Though it is set up as a murder mystery, George is a prime suspect from the beginning simply by circumstance. As his character unfolds, the reader is presented with mounting evidence pointing toward his violent tendencies.

George is born into a privileged family in Connecticut with particularly pretentious and somewhat withholding parents. Though he has a fairly happy childhood, George never learns right from wrong in many senses and never experiences true consequences for his actions.

In college as an art history major, George meets his future wife, Catherine. During the course of their tenuous relationship, Catherine becomes pregnant and George eventually decides to marry her. After a raising their young daughter, Franny, in the city for a few years, they move to the Hale’s house. George takes a...