Society of Lies: A Novel

Naomi Mason is Maya’s sister, 10 years younger. She is the second narrator of the novel and its other protagonist. The two Mason sisters have much in common, and Naomi follows Maya in studying at Princeton: The narrative plays on the parallels of the sisters’ experiences and their first-person narratives. Like Maya, Naomi isn’t sure how to navigate Princeton. She describes herself as “an English major with no idea what to do with my life” (73). The novel creates a traditional seniority dynamic between the two sisters which combines loyalty and tensions. Naomi feels obligated to stay at Princeton even when she is fearful, stating, “My sister always reminds me how hard she worked for me to be here” (73). The novel also shows that Maya has tried to protect Naomi, encouraging her to go to a different school, like Brown, but Naomi wanted to “follow in her footsteps” (107). In this way, the novel casts Naomi as Maya’s protégée, and the victim of Maya’s own lack of moral courage 10 years before. The sisters have trouble communicating with each other, and this drives much of the plot’s tension and layering of secrets. Neither character can confide in one another about Lila. Maya can’t bring herself to tell Naomi what happened, and Naomi doesn’t want to unsettle Maya by telling her that she’s investigating Greystone and Lila. The lack of communication leaves Naomi vulnerable and, arguably, makes Maya culpable. Naomi is also different from Maya, and this comparison serves as a tacit critique of Maya’s earlier interactions. Naomi responds to Greystone’s darkness with a courage and tenacity that her sister lacked. Working with Amy, Naomi challenges Greystone and begins the ultimate process of revelation and exposure.

Naomi’s character is symbolically linked to the character of Bertha Mason, Mr. Rochester’s abandoned wife in Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 novel Jane Eyre, considered “mad” and confined to the attic of his country mansion. The figure of Bertha has become emblematic of dark secrets and misogyny in literature and appears in many later work of literature and literary theory. Bertha and Naomi share a last name. When Naomi dramatically declares, “Let’s burn this place down” (308), the image alludes to Bertha’s setting Rochester’s house alight, exposing his secrets and bigamous intentions. Naomi’s thesis advisor, Fiona Williams, has a cat named Rochester, and her legal guardian, Margaret, reads the Brontë sisters, so the last name carries meaning. Both Bertha and Naomi die destroying symbols of abuse.

Matthew DuPont is the novel’s antagonist. In keeping with the narrative’s themes around duplicity, the story presents two images of DuPont. This also makes him a plausible fraudster, facilitating the plot of entrapment. At first, Maya describes him as remarkably handsome and “somewhat of a campus celebrity” (90). He teaches the most popular class at Princeton (Behavioral Economics), and he experienced success beyond academia, appearing on magazine covers and aptly managing other people’s wealth.

The other—true—side of DuPont is villainous. This is gradually revealed as part of the novel’s building of suspense and jeopardy. He is a predator who grooms and exploits his students sexually, breaking the covenant between teacher and pupil. He physically abuses Lila and orchestrates the humiliation of Amy. When Maya snoops around his office, she finds “at least a hundred file folders with familiar last names” (376). The numerous files turn DuPont into a one-person surveillance state. He keeps tabs on relevant individuals, and when they threaten his system, he attacks them or kills them. He’s the primary person behind Greystone’s machinations. He’s the character who perpetuates its duplicity and prevents people from exposing the truth about it. In DuPont, the novel creates an antagonist who is irredeemably bad, strengthening the ending’s moral triumph.

Lila Jones is a central character, as the mystery narrative centers around her death. Both Maya and Naomi are deeply affected by Lila’s death. It defines Maya’s experience at Princeton and symbolizes the systemic maliciousness of the Greystone network. Ten years later, her mysterious death becomes the focal point of Naomi’s life at Princeton, as she works with Amy to uncover how and why Lila died.

Lila’s death remain a mystery until the end of the story, in order to maintain the mystery plotline and to provide a final denouement. Lila herself remains a mysterious and unknowable character. The reader isn’t sure why she joined Greystone or what prompted her violent affair with DuPont. However, Lila is described by others as having certain admirable character traits. Maya says, “She had this cool confidence about her” (205). Her style and actions reinforce her independence. Her Doc Martens and red hair symbolize that she’s tough and not afraid to stand out. By trying to take down Greystone, she puts herself in the spotlight. Lila dies, but her story inspires Naomi and Amy, leading to the ultimate achievement of Lila’s goal: dismantling Greystone.

Cecily St. Clare is a duplicitous character and the novel’s secondary antagonist. The novel uses this character to create and explore the nature of secrets and lies. Her deceit also creates many of the novel’s red herrings. The novel reveals Cecily’s antagonistic role gradually; at first she is presented as Maya and Naomi’s ally. She meets Maya at Princeton, and they bond by taking revenge on Alex Bain. Cecily furthers the novel’s exploration of privilege and elitism and her character is largely defined by these. Her family is extraordinarily wealthy—owning “half of Manhattan” (117)—and she uses her money to help the sisters. She gets Naomi out of San Jose, and her affable brother and sister-in-law become her legal guardians. Cecily and her money seem to play a protective role at first, with Naomi referring to her as “Aunt Cecily” just moments before Cecily kills Naomi.

Even before the story reveals Cecily’s villainy, mischief and flirtation define her, presented as the results of her privileged, consequence-free lifestyle. On the ski trip, she gives DuPont a suggestive toast. As an adult, she flirts with the handsome crew member aboard her yacht. The novel repeatedly hints that Cecily may be sexually unfaithful. She is certainly in love with DuPont rather than her husband, Theodore Hunt. Cecily says, “I had someone else. Someone better. Our love was the only thing keeping me sane” (684). Though Cecily’s family founded Greystone, and she’s the president of Sterling, what primarily motivates Cecily isn’t preserving her elite identity—it’s her love for DuPont.

Kai and Daisy are supporting characters, part of Maya’s friend group at Princeton, which also includes Cecily. Both characters help the novel explore the experiences of Princeton students from non-traditional backgrounds. Kai is Chinese, and Daisy is working class, so both have socio-ethnic identity traits that link them to Maya’s own and they play a supporting role to Maya in this way. As the story progresses, Daisy becomes a crucial ally, alerting Maya that Cecily is the killer and leaking the cabin camera footage to The New York Times—an act that finally brings down Greystone. Daisy’s name is another literary reference, alluding to the unsophisticated heroine of Henry James’s society novel, Daisy Miller (1878).

Kai remains tethered to the privileges that Greystone confers. When Naomi talks to her about what happened to Lila, Kai replies, “I wish I could tell you success was all hard work and intellect, darling, but it’s not. At least half is luck, timing, and the right mentors […] This is serious. You could ruin a lot of people’s lives. Please, don’t ask anyone else about it” (501-02). Acutely pragmatic, Kai is aware that it’s in her best interest not to expose Greystone. Daisy and Kai navigate Princeton in different ways, representing the varying experiences of non-traditional Ivy League students, as well as providing the novel with moral alternatives.

Amy is a supporting but important character. She is victimized by others for much of the novel, but her courage is rewarded by a happy ending. Through Amy, the novel explores misogyny and sexual violence, and how these relate to corrupt power structures. Like the Mason sisters and Daisy, Amy has a working-class background. To earn extra money, she acts as a “camgirl.” Her goal is to be a journalist. She has an internship with The New York Times, and they plan to hire her. Her first article is on Greystone and Lila, and realizing the incendiary consequences, she tells Maya and Zee that she’s working on an article about water quality in low-income communities. Eventually, she tells Naomi the truth, and Naomi becomes her journalist partner. To punish Amy, DuPont has people wreck her room and broadcast one of her cam sessions during her presentation. Once her sexual content becomes widespread, The Times fires her, but they rehire her and publish her article. Amy’s character is a crucial plot driver: Without Amy, Naomi wouldn’t learn about Lila. Her ultimate happy ending provides part of the novel’s moral arc and provides a point of emotional resolution, balancing the dark revenge aspects of the conclusion.

Marta is a supporting character who fulfils important plot functions. She is also an example of how marginalized people can show great courage and make a significant difference: She is the Ukrainian housekeeper at Sterling/Greystone, subject to DuPont’s corruption and the disrespect of many of the club’s privileged members. DuPont pays her a six-figure salary to keep her quiet. He also threatens to deport her family. Nevertheless, Marta finds ways to help Maya and Naomi. Marta leaves the door to DuPont’s office unlocked, so Maya can investigate it. On the ski trip, she tries to warn Maya that she should call off their plan to drug DuPont. With Naomi, she sends the cabin footage, so Naomi has proof of who killed Lila. Though she helps Cecily dig a grave for Maya, she chooses Maya over Cecily by killing the latter with a shovel. Marta is on the side of the protagonists, and she’s a hero for saving Maya’s life.