The Liars decide to burn it down because, as Cadence says, "Clairmont seemed like the seat of the patriarchy ] We figured if the house was gone, and the paperwork and data inside it gone, and all the objects they fought about gone, the power would be gone" (70.18). After the fire, she tells us: We burned not a home, but a symbol.
Why did the Liars want to destroy Clairmont?
The Liars began to fantasize about Clairmont ’s destruction via a natural disaster, as a way for God to punish the family for their greed, pettiness, and bigotry. After that, they reasoned, the family would learn to love again and would be purified.
What is the significance of Clairmont on Pretty Little Liars?
The Liars decided that Clairmont was a symbol of everything that was wrong with the family— Gat described it as the “seat of the patriarchy,” which Johnny laughed at, but he was right. Clairmont housed the family possessions and the paperwork, and with those items lost in a fire, there would be nothing to fight over.
What happened to the Sinclair family in the Clairmont fire?
The fire they start ends in tragedy, though, as Gat, Mirren, and Johnny end up trapped in the house and are killed. However, in some strange way, the Clairmont fire did eventually bring the Sinclair family together as they mourned the death of the three teens and helped Cady recover from shock.
Why did the Liars decide to rebel against their mothers?
The Liars decided that their rebellion against their mothers—specifically, not letting themselves be pit against one another in the family fight over inheritance—was not enough.
What happened to Gat and Mirren in the Clairmont fire?
What did Penny complain about in The Liars?
What is the name of the island where Tipper Sinclair lives?
What did the Liars fantasize about?
What does Cady see when she arrives on Beechwood?
Where does Cady go in the morning?
What is the name of the building that Harris built after the fire?
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Why did the Liars set fire to Clairmont?
Before the new Clairmont was in the picture, the liars had set a fire to the old Clairmont. Harris was the “king” of the island and the Clairmont was his palace. The liars decided to burn down the house because it was a symbol of hate and greed on the island.
Why did Cadence burn the house down?
Finally, in the end, Cadence remembers that she and the other teenage grandchildren had decided to burn down their grandfather's house when it was empty in anger over being dragged into their parents' fights over money.
What does Clairmont symbolize in we were liars?
Clairmont Symbol Analysis. The largest and most important house on Beechwood Island, Clairmont represents—to the Liars, at least—the root of all the Sinclair family's problems.
What do the liars think would be accomplished if Clairmont were struck by lightning?
Lockhart. The Liars asked each other what would happen if the Clairmont house were struck by lightning. It would be both punishment and purification, they decided, and it might even make everyone stop fighting and be a family again.
What was the twist in We Were Liars?
Cadence finally recalls that the Liars were all trapped inside Clairmont, too. They all died in the fire. She was the only one who escaped. The people she's been hanging with in Cuddledown all summer are ghosts.
How did Cady hit her head in We Were Liars?
Chapter 12 & Chapter 13 Cadence's accident came in July. She doesn't remember much, but apparently she went swimming alone, hit her head on some rocks, and was found curled up on the beach, shivering.
Did cadences dad shoot her?
Although there is little actual violence in the novel, Cadence often uses horrific images to describe how she feels. When her father leaves, Cadence says that he pulled out a gun and shot her in the chest. She says her heart fell out onto the lawn while blood gushed from the hole.
Who died in the fire in we were liars?
Cadence realizes that Johnny, Mirren, and Gat all died in the fire. She goes to visit the Liars at Cuddledown where they tell her that their deaths were not her fault and reveal that they will no longer be able to appear to her, diving into the ocean and disappearing.
What is the significance of the Golden Retrievers in we were liars?
Cadence refers to them as "the goldens," and they're a central part of her life. They're also the one way Penny brings in a little (very little) money. The dogs are beautiful, but kind of useless.
Did Cady cut herself in We Were Liars?
Every time Gat said these things, so casual and truthful, so oblivious—my veins opened. My wrists split. I bled down my palms.
Why was Cady in the water?
She probably just needed to feel something other than pain and didn't happen to have a swimsuit. Also, although it is sad it is possible she was trying to drown herself. She wanted to direct all that pain into something she could control, instead of something that makes herself feel uncertain about herself.
What happened to Cadence in We Were Liars?
We Were Liars is a YA mystery involving a group of teenagers who vacation with their family on a private island during the summers. When summering on the island, one of the teenagers, Cadence, ends up with a brain injury as the result of a swimming accident when she's 15.
Why was cadence in the water in we were liars?
It's the beginning of Cadence's second week on the island and the Liars are having a picnic on the Cuddledown roof, looking down at the beach. Cadence says that when she dies, she wants them to throw her ashes into the water so they can look down from the roof and think about how awesome she was.
What is wrong with Cady in we were liars?
Her parents divorce, however, is not close to being the most unsettling thing that happens to Cady during “summer 15” as she and the Liars call it. An unspecified accident on the island has left her with a brain injury, intense headaches, and selective amnesia.
How did cadence lose her memory in we were liars?
2.2 Synopsis of We Were Liars We Were Liars is a novel that tells a story about a girl named Cadence Sinclair who lost her memory after having an accident. She tried to get her memory back because she was not comfortable with her current condition. It felt like things were hidden from her after the accident.
Did Cady cut herself in we were liars?
Every time Gat said these things, so casual and truthful, so oblivious—my veins opened. My wrists split. I bled down my palms.
We Were Liars Symbols | LitCharts
Need help on symbols in E. Lockhart's We Were Liars? Check out our detailed analysis. From the creators of SparkNotes.
30+ quotes from We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
“ONCE UPON A time, there was a king who had three beautiful daughters. He loved each of them dearly. One day, when the young ladies were of age to be married, a terrible, three-headed dragon laid siege to the kingdom, burning villages with fiery breath.
We Were Liars Quotes and Analysis | GradeSaver
Welcome to the beautiful Sinclair family. No one is a criminal. No one is an addict. No one is a failure. Cadence, p. 18. In the opening sentences of We Were Liars, Cadence introduces the reader to her family, declaring their virtues.However, by defining her family members by what they are not, Cadence signals to the reader that she is being ironic, and that these traits, far from being absent ...
We Were Liars Important Quotes | SuperSummary
57-page comprehensive study guide; Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis; The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions
We Were Liars Quotes by E. Lockhart - Goodreads
“ONCE UPON A time, there was a king who had three beautiful daughters. He loved each of them dearly. One day, when the young ladies were of age to be married, a terrible, three-headed dragon laid siege to the kingdom, burning villages with fiery breath.
Why did the Liars decide to build a Clairmont?
The Liars decided that Clairmont was a symbol of everything that was wrong with the family— Gat described it as the “seat of the patriarchy,” which Johnny laughed at, but he was right. Clairmont housed the family possessions and the paperwork, and with those items lost in a fire, there would be nothing to fight over. They thought of it as a way to unite the family. Cady remembers some of this, like how Gat cried—like a man, not a boy, like he had experienced the bitterness of life. Someone brought up the fact that they could still see one another even if they didn’t have this special time on the island, but they weren’t convinced. They wanted to make a bigger statement and force the family to change their ways.
Why did Cady and Johnny burn down Clairmont?
She knows that it happened, but she will need to re-experience it in order to understand it and come to terms with her feelings of guilt and grief. Johnny reminds Cady that they chose to burn down Clairmont in order to save their friendship and her relationship with Gat.
What did Harris ask the Liars about his estate?
Harris came over, wedged himself between them, and began to ask the Liars whether they thought he should leave the majority of his estate to Harvard to fund a student center.
Why did Penny refuse to see Gat?
Harris’s campaign to rid himself of Gat would not be complete without ensuring that he no longer spent time alone with Cady —but when Penny asked her daughter to stop seeing Gat, she refused. This was the final straw for Cady, as she knew that she would not be able to see him during the school year and did not want to lose him during the summers. They smashed some valuable items of Harris’s as a prelude to their real act of rebellion.
What does Cady tell the Liars about this memory?
Cady goes to Cuddledown to tell the Liars about this memory and reveal the fact that she knows they are criminals . Johnny asks her what else she remembers, and she realizes that the snippets of memory that she has had all along— Mirren holding a gas can, Harris standing by a tree watching a bonfire—they are from that night, but she hadn’t put them together correctly before this moment. Johnny helps her fill some of it in: the aunts were getting drunk and fighting throughout summer fifteen, and Harris only egged them on by turning them against one another. Carrie wanted Johnny to help her convince Harris to give her the majority of the inheritance; she asked him to talk badly of Cady as the eldest grandchild.
Why did Cady kiss Gat?
She asked him why he hadn’t mentioned all of this before, and Gat responded that he didn’t want to ruin the joy of being on Beechwood for the summer—he wanted to imagine that life is perfect while he is there. The two of them walked out to the water, climbed up onto a rock, took off most of their clothes, and held each other, trying to forget about everything that was wrong with the Sinclair family.
Why does Cady remember Penny asking her to write a sympathy card to Harris to remind him that she cares?
Penny also suggested that Cady remind Harris of all her success in school to show that she was well rounded and an asset to the Sinclair family . When Cady pressed her mother about why writing these letters is so important, Penny explained that Harris is “very impressionable” and needed reminding that Cady is the eldest grandchild, despite the fact that Johnny is only three weeks younger, and a boy.
Why did the liars burn down the Clairmont?
The liars decided to burn down the house because it was a symbol of hate and greed on the island. Since they decided to burn it down, Cadence stated that they “burned not a home ...
Why do the Sinclairs see the house as a punishment?
(Lockhart 174) They see it as a punishment to them because Harris said how disappointed he was with his daughters when they were fighting over the houses.
Why did Capulet blame Romeo and Juliet?
Causes Of The Blame For The Death Of Romeo And Juliet. Capulet raised Juliet in a way to make her feel unworthy and that her only importance is to move her family higher on the social hierarchy. His actions made Juliet resort to finding an escape from her arranged marriage and poor home life.
Where do the Sinclairs live?
Sinclairs live in the summer on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts. Harris Sinclair is the one who wants this perfect reputation for his family and wants to hold the name of the Sinclairs. Before the new Clairmont was in the picture, the liars had set a fire to the old Clairmont. Harris was the “king” of the island and ...
What did Harris do to the family?
By Harris creating a strong, not good reaction, by building the new house like it is, he did something that won't be forgotten to the family. For example, the aunties acted spoiled and greedy over the Boston house, and Harris then had a mad reaction towards it. (Lockhart 152) By the aunties acting like that Harris probably built ...
What was the cause of Macbeth's fall?
Causes Of Macbeth's Downfall. Macbeth’s Downfall Macbeth’s quest to have power lead him down a path to failure because he made terrible choices along the path. He gained his status as a King by murdering Duncan. He didn’t play fair. Macbeth by William Shakespeare, illustrated by Gareth Hinds.
What is the theme of the article "First Blame the Parents"?
The theme of the article “First Blame the Parents” revolves around maids who are generally suffering due to their employer’s impolite treatment. Fakhri Rajab questions the possibility of whether a maid could have any private time under such pressure.
What happened to Gat and Mirren in the Clairmont fire?
The fire they start ends in tragedy, though, as Gat, Mirren, and Johnny end up trapped in the house and are killed. However, in some strange way, the Clairmont fire did eventually bring the Sinclair family together as they mourned the death of the three teens and helped Cady recover from shock.
What did Penny complain about in The Liars?
Penny was drunkenly complaining about how she had to repeatedly win Harris’s love, and that... (full context) The Liars decided that Clairmont was a symbol of everything that was wrong with the family—Gat described it as the... (full context) ...and throw it all into the pile.
What is the name of the island where Tipper Sinclair lives?
Clairmont. The largest and most important house on Beechwood Island, Clairmont represents—to the Liars, at least—the root of all the Sinclair family’s problems. After Tipper Sinclair dies, the Sinclair sisters spend most of their time on the island in Clairmont, arguing over their mother’s possessions as well as the wealth they will inherit ...
What did the Liars fantasize about?
The Liars began to fantasize about Clairmont ’s destruction via a natural disaster, as a way for God to punish the family for... (full context) ...in the garden of Red Gate and could hear Harris and his daughters arguing at Clairmont.
What does Cady see when she arrives on Beechwood?
As Cady arrives on Beechwood, she sees that Clairmont, the main house on the island, has been completely rebuilt. In the place of the... (full context) ...around. The Liars tell Cady that they will not be having their meals at New Clairmont this summer with the rest of the family. (full context)
Where does Cady go in the morning?
In the morning, Cady goes to Clairmont and has breakfast with her mother and grandfather. She asks where Fatima and Prince Phillip—two... (full context) ...over, and they agree to do just that, right after lunch. Cady has lunch at Clairmont and gets a tour of the renovated house.
What is the name of the building that Harris built after the fire?
In the year following the fire, Harris builds New Clairmont, an austere building that represents a sharp turn away from the traditional and ostentatious home that had once been the family’s gathering space.