Destiny

Throughout the main novel - and even within the sub-novel - destiny is a thorny and precarious theme. It seemed that every character to a degree had little or no control over his or her destiny. Even Richard the Terrible, who so longed for prestige and power that he would stop at nothing, was destined for the scrap heap.

From the moment of Laura's birth, Iris was destined to care for her, and she takes care of her as though she were a feeble and inadequate person. Laura was never really allowed to be an individual - not without someone watching her carefully, as though she were a two-minute egg. Iris married Richard for Laura - Norval made that clear enough when he sold Iris to Richard.

Laura was destined to die early and tried to complete the task herself by drowning in an icy river, when she...