Siblinghood and Rivalry

As the title suggests, one of the main themes in the novel examines sibling relationships between two female characters, particularly Thérèse and Léonie. The novel charts how tensions develop and refuse to be resolved in the relationship.

At the core of the rivalry is the girls' need for attention and acceptance from the adults around them. For Thérèse, this means being Louis' favorite and being seen as a "good girl," innocent and chaste. Thérèse plays up her own strengths and begins to play up Léonie's faults as her sense of confidence diminishes. Thérèse paints Léonie as her opposite, criticizing both Léonie and her mother Madeleine for being unchaste. Thérèse also emphasizes her own cultural identity, finding fault with...