Donna Tartt
The Little Friend
It is the second novel by Donna Tartt, published on October 22, 2002, a decade after her first novel. It is an adventure novel that begins and ends the most horrific and violent events. The book centers on 12-year-old Harriet Cleve Dufresnes, who decides to investigate the unexplained murder of her brother Robin.
Plot:
On Mother's Day in the mid-1960s, 9-year-old Robin, Dufresne's eldest child and only son, is found hanged from a tree on the family property. Robin's murder causes his mother Charlotte to become depressed and his father Dixon to leave the family and move to another city under the pretext of work.
Twelve years later, Robin's two younger sisters, Allison and Harriet, are now sixteen and twelve years old, respectively.
Twelve years later, Robin's two younger sisters, Allison and Harriet, are now sixteen and twelve years old, respectively.
Harriet, the youngest child, is considered particularly difficult as she is highly intelligent but uncompromising.Harriet develops a morbid fascination with her brother, which leads to her decision to find the killer. Their family's maid, Ida Rue, says that shortly before his death, Robin got into a fight with another boy, Danny Ratliff, the son of an extremely dysfunctional family that is associated with thefts and drug production. Harriet convinces herself that Danny is a killer and decides to take revenge, which is where her adult adventures begin.
Topic & issues:
1. Theme of growing up
2. The power of loss and grief
3. The complexities of childhood
4. The interplay between past and present
5. The influence of environment and community
6. The search for identity and belonging
7. Loneliness
8. The fight against evil
9. Awareness of the illusory nature other people’s ideas about the world and evil
10. Racial inequality
Characters:
1. Harriet Cleve Dufresnes
Peculiarities of text composition:
The story is told linearly. In parallel, several plot threads unfold at the same time, and in parallel, several families are told that stand at the center of the novel.
A third-person narrative alternates between telling about one character and events from his point of view, and then about another character and his point of view on a situation or event. Due to the fact that sufficient time is given to each character, their consciousness is revealed deeply and multidimensionally.
Separately, it can be noted that the book is divided into 7 parts with self-explanatory titles. The title characterizes some event in the book; they are always significant, but in different senses. In the first chapter, titled "The Dead Cat," Allison goes through the loss of a pet, which is a tragedy for her. The chapter "The Blackbird" is so named because in it Harriet accidentally kills a bird. In the chapter "The Pool Hall", Harriet finally meets her target, Danny, in the pool hall, after which their life lines become intertwined. The chapter "The Mission" characterizes one of the most intense plot threads, where Harriet and Hely sneak into someone else's house with snakes, this is a mission. like in their favorite adventure novels. The title of the fifth chapter, “The Red Gloves,” is the only thing that should have remained with Harriet after the departure of Ida, who became a truly parental figure for the girls in this cold house. Here the heroine again faces her own imperfections and vulnerability, this is one of the stages of her growing up. Further even worse trials await her: in the chapter “The Funeral” she loses her beloved aunt, who was also one of the only sources of warmth and care in her life. The chapter "The Tower" is the last and is the location of the denouement of the novel.
The story is told linearly. In parallel, several plot threads unfold at the same time, and in parallel, several families are told that stand at the center of the novel.
A third-person narrative alternates between telling about one character and events from his point of view, and then about another character and his point of view on a situation or event. Due to the fact that sufficient time is given to each character, their consciousness is revealed deeply and multidimensionally.
Separately, it can be noted that the book is divided into 7 parts with self-explanatory titles. The title characterizes some event in the book; they are always significant, but in different senses. In the first chapter, titled "The Dead Cat," Allison goes through the loss of a pet, which is a tragedy for her. The chapter "The Blackbird" is so named because in it Harriet accidentally kills a bird. In the chapter "The Pool Hall", Harriet finally meets her target, Danny, in the pool hall, after which their life lines become intertwined. The chapter "The Mission" characterizes one of the most intense plot threads, where Harriet and Hely sneak into someone else's house with snakes, this is a mission. like in their favorite adventure novels. The title of the fifth chapter, “The Red Gloves,” is the only thing that should have remained with Harriet after the departure of Ida, who became a truly parental figure for the girls in this cold house. Here the heroine again faces her own imperfections and vulnerability, this is one of the stages of her growing up. Further even worse trials await her: in the chapter “The Funeral” she loses her beloved aunt, who was also one of the only sources of warmth and care in her life. The chapter "The Tower" is the last and is the location of the denouement of the novel.
Genre features & Extra:
This novel includes many different genre features. This is a story about growing up and loneliness, and there is also intrigue and mystery. Some episodes of the book seem to be written in the style of psychological thrillers. The heroine's naive interest in adventure novels develops into her obsession with the murder of her brother, which is why she decides to take actions that lead to terrible events, and not brave achievements as in the books.
The title of the novel is explained at the end of the story and becomes a revelation that illuminates all events in a completely new way: Harriet’s father, who came to visit the family, calls Danny Ratcliffe a little friend of his dead Robin, remembering how the boy came to express his condolences to the family. Thus, the criminal remains undetected, but it is emphasized how unhappy the defenseless children, Harriet and Danny, were.
This novel includes many different genre features. This is a story about growing up and loneliness, and there is also intrigue and mystery. Some episodes of the book seem to be written in the style of psychological thrillers. The heroine's naive interest in adventure novels develops into her obsession with the murder of her brother, which is why she decides to take actions that lead to terrible events, and not brave achievements as in the books.
The title of the novel is explained at the end of the story and becomes a revelation that illuminates all events in a completely new way: Harriet’s father, who came to visit the family, calls Danny Ratcliffe a little friend of his dead Robin, remembering how the boy came to express his condolences to the family. Thus, the criminal remains undetected, but it is emphasized how unhappy the defenseless children, Harriet and Danny, were.
