The Girl On The Train

How do Tom’s actions create conflict between the women in the novel? What does the novel suggest is true about solidarity or conflict between women with regards to romantic rivalry?

What roles do the women inhabit in the novel, and what roles would they prefer to inhabit? Why do the characters desire to live different lives, and what does this suggest about gender expectations?

What do trains symbolize for the different characters? What role do they play in the narrative?

How does the motif of clothes connect to the themes of the novel? Perform a close reading on a particular article of clothing and its significance.

What do the smiles of different characters symbolize? Is this symbolism accurate or inaccurate in terms of those characters’ true natures?

How does the news, in various mediums, operate in relation to memory? How does the news affect, link, or divide different characters?

How does motherhood, or infertility, impact the character’s actions and thoughts? What does Hawkins suggest is true about the motivation to become a mother?

How would you compare Rachel, Megan, and Anna’s feelings about touch, especially romantic contact?