Family of Liars

Carrie spends much of the text believing in her family’s persecution of her, unworthy of their loyalty, and easily betrayed. Through their actions, her family shows Carrie that they are loyal to her in spite of their betrayals, and Carrie is left to choose whether she wants to remain loyal to them.

Carrie and Penny’s relationship becomes even more strained when Carrie discovers that Penny is also intimately involved with Pfeff. Penny tries to explain her actions, but Carrie’s sense of betrayal has already solidified. This betrayal breaks something in Carrie: “Penny knew how I felt, she knew how broken her betrayal made me feel [...] and still–none of that mattered [...]. Maybe some part of Penny can tell I am only half her sister” (203). This anger fuels Carrie’s rage, which results in her murdering Pfeff and feeling, at the moment, “I could just as easily have killed Penny” (266). Despite this, Carrie does not harm Penny, and her sisters prove their loyalty to her when they go along with her plan and never speak of Pfeff’s murder again.

For much of the text, Carrie also feels betrayed by her father, Harris. When she learns that he is not her biological father, she uncovers an added betrayal: “My weak jaw [.