Try to imagine spending your entire summer in isolation on a remote island with only your family for company. Sure, the Liars get fancy houses and private boats, but all the opulence comes at a price: Their mothers are constantly pressuring them to suck up to their grandfather in order to get more money when he dies.
Granddad knows what's up, of course—he doesn't actually believe Cadence and Mirren want the heirloom tablecloths. The pressure to secure the family fortune is enough to drive any teenager to rebel; it's just that in We Were Liars, the Liars take that rebellion a little (okay, a lot) too far.
Questions About Family
- Why are the sisters' Beechwood houses so different—for example, why is Cuddledown smaller than Windemere, when there are more people living in Cuddledown? Would Penny, Carrie, and Bess get along better if their houses were carbon copies?
- The Liars show more loyalty to each other than to their immediate families. Why do the cousins get along so well when the aunts fight so much?
- Does Harris actually love one of his daughters more than the others, or does he just like to cause drama?
Chew on This
Gat's character wouldn't work as well if he weren't such a stark contrast to the Sinclairs. He's not just different in terms of class and wealth, he's very different physically as well.
Tipper's death allows Harris's uncontrolled power trip. If she were still alive, he'd have someone to check him when he starts pitting their children against each other.