Study Guide

Big Little Lies Chapter 33

By Liane Moriarty

Chapter 33

Celeste goes to a counselor that specializes in domestic violence.
She specifically picks a counselor that lives a long way away so no one will recognize her going into the counselor's office.
When she's preparing to go inside, the woman leaving is covered in tattoos and smoking. She looks cheap, thinks Celeste.
Celeste, to make a point about how not-cheap she is, has worn an expensive dress and a full face of makeup.
The counselor asks her a lot of questions.
Are there weapons in the house? No.
Did Celeste ever think she was going to die? Only once, when Perry almost smothered her with a couch cushion.
Does Perry ever hurt the boys? No, says Celeste. He loves the boys. And it was so hard to get pregnant—they had multiple miscarriages and the boys were preemies.
She explains to the counselor that the power balance shifts after Perry assaults her. She gets the power, at least until the bruises fade. And it's…almost worth it.
He will hit you again, the counselor says. And Celeste needs to make a plan for that eventuality.