by Xiang Xiang Liew

Created on: December 16, 2009

The Role of Perspective Shifting in the Portrayal of the Romantic Relationship Between Sue and Maud

The romantic attraction between Sue and Maud is a central element driving the plot of Fingersmith, serving as one of the main sources of conflict. The way the novel is written leads the reader to become emotionally invested in this romantic relationship; consequently, he or she experiences heightened emotional responses towards the conflict created by the dynamics of the relationship between Sue and Maud, as well as the eventual resolution of the relationship.

The fact that the novel succeeds in compelling the reader to become emotionally invested in the romantic relationship is striking, given the problematic nature of the relationship between Sue and Maud. The first part of the novel revolves around Sue’s attempts to get Maud to agree to marry Gentleman in secret so that he can lock her up in an insane asylum and take possession of her fortune. The second part is narrated from Maud’s perspective, who is revealed to be in league with Gentleman, and focuses on her ultimate plan to incarcerate Sue in the insane asylum under her identity. The very existence of their relationship is due to the fact that Sue wishes to cause grievous harm to Maud in order to benefit herself and vice versa. The novel does not let the reader forget this fact, as both characters clearly acknowledge their ultimate motivations when they are narrating; this effect becomes increasingly prominent during Maud’s narration, as she is aware of and regularly refers to Sue’s ulterior motives as well as her own.

How, then, does the reader come to accept their romantic relationship, even though to a certain extent the relationship is based on lies and deception? What elements cause the reader to accept the validity of their feelings for each other, given that they proceed with their plans even after they are aware of their romantic attraction to each other? I argue that it is the presentation of certain key events from both Sue’s and Maud’s perspectives, especially the events during the period starting from Sue’s arrival at Briar House up until her incarceration in the insane asylum, that leads the reader to sympathize with their romantic feelings for each other despite the fact both are actively working towards the other’s downfall. The discrepancies, additional insights, and points of congruence between the two character’s representations of

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