75 pages • 2-hour read
Big Little Lies
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Character Analysis
Madeline
Strong-willed and opinionated, Madeline begins the story appearing to be an archetypical suburban mom, described in the second chapter as “famous for her fondness of birthdays and celebrations of all kinds. Any excuse for champagne” (9). Madeline is seemingly a girlie girl but becomes continuously complex. Part of her might love mimosas and the color pink, but she more often demonstrates a passion to do the right thing. Madeline is the first mother aside from Jane to defend Ziggy, unafraid of what the other parents will say about her. She further helps Ziggy by taking him to Disney On Ice after he doesn’t receive an invite to Amabella’s party. Madeline is also stubborn in her skepticism of Nathan. Madeline is aggressive and sharp with him, but only because she still vividly remembers the pain he caused when he walked out on her and their newborn daughter. Madeline isn’t liked by everyone because of her boldness, but her actions are always backed by wanting to do the right thing.
Madeline’s character also strongly shows the importance of friendship. She respectfully listens to Jane when she recounts her assault, and she consoles her affectionally afterward. A testimonial in Chapter 19 describes Madeline’s loyalty to Jane as “like a crazy, protective big sister” (125). Without Madeline’s help, Jane could never have healed from her past trauma. Additionally, backstory reveals that Madeline befriended Celeste after she saved Max from drowning at a swim lesson. Madeline “jumped straight into the water, fully dressed, stilettos and all” (84), showing she cares much for the lives of strangers than frivolous possessions.
Madeline often provides a safe landing place for the other main characters; she acts as a mother to the other mothers. Her dramatic flair occasionally irritates Celeste and Jane, but they depend on her. Additionally, in the end, Madeline’s willingness to accept Nathan also shows she’s capable of change. While Madeline doesn’t experience the same tribulations as Jane and Celeste, she nevertheless becomes a more forgiving person by the end.
Jane
A young, single mother with a painful past, Jane is a newcomer to the Pirriwee Peninsula. Jane’s perspective provides support for the reader; we learn about the town, the school, and the people at the same time Jane does. Jane and Ziggy moving to the area gives Moriarty the narrative logic to divulge information about Pirriwee. Jane being a young mom also provides generational variety amongst the otherwise middle-aged parents. Her problems are different from the other parents: freelance work, struggling to raise Ziggy on her own, and trying to be taken seriously as a mom. Jane’s struggles fitting into the community show the difficulties young and single moms might face in cultures dominated by traditional family structures. Her young age, too, can also appeal to readers the same age as Jane, broadening the appeal of the novel.
Despite her younger age, Jane goes on to display mature behavior when raising her son. She begins Big Little Lies secretly worried that Ziggy will become violent because of his father. Jane is ashamed of this fear, but she still can’t ignore it. As the story progresses, Jane recognizes that Ziggy never displays violent behavior, which the child psychologist echoes. By taking Ziggy to the psychologist, Jane shows maturity in a difficult situation. After, she confidently defends her son to a group of gossiping mothers. Jane’s decisions are logical and smart, demonstrating that young mothers are equally capable of being successful parents. Furthermore, Jane never resents that Ziggy’s conception resulted from assault. From the beginning, she commits to motherhood and even puts her dream of being a lawyer aside to immediately support her son. Despite her age, Jane proves to be one of the most mature and selfless parents in the story.
Celeste
The third main character, Celeste is more guarded and reserved than the other two main characters. Where Jane ends up confiding in Madeline, Celeste keeps Perry’s abuse a secret. Celeste instead chooses to speak to a therapist, but even when she does, she feels “It was shameful […] , but it was also a wonderful relief to be telling someone” (219). More than Madeline or Jane, the truth is painful for Celeste to let out. Therefore, as the story unfolds and Celeste still doesn’t leave Perry, his assaults only get worse. While the other stories rise and fall in dramatic intensity, Celeste’s reserved nature causes her storyline to boil until finally erupting at the trivia night. Her character propels the story forward by keeping her secrets close until the climax.
Celeste’s lifestyle also allows for commentary on class and wealth. Celeste rationalizes her marriage through the opulent lifestyle that Perry’s career affords them. They live in a house that overlooks the beach. They go on vacations. He buys her expensive gifts, and she can donate thousands of dollars to charity without batting an eye. Speaking to her therapist, Celeste even dangerously thinks “Perhaps it was even fair. A little violence was a bargain price for a life that would otherwise be just too sickeningly, lavishly, moonlit perfect” (259). Celeste’s inner turmoil, and the dangerous situation she finds herself in, shows that material wealth can never make up for violent behavior. Furthermore, Celeste never seems to find joy in her wealthy lifestyle. Madeline even observes that Celeste doesn’t care about jewelry and purses the way she does. Celeste views her lifestyle as something to be grateful for through the eyes of others, not herself. Celeste’s life therefore shows that money cannot buy happiness or serve as a substitute for a healthy marriage.
Perry
Perry is the primary antagonist in the story. His attacks on his wife are not only awful for Celeste to experience, they also negatively impact the boys, shown in the reveal of Max being the bully at school. Before Max is found out, the mystery of who the bully is sends the parents and teachers into a spiral of accusations and pettiness. The bullying leads to Ziggy being singled out and Renata and Madeline forming separate “teams.” Without being conscious of it, Perry sets many of the plotlines in motion for the story. Meanwhile, Perry is walking around, amongst everyone else, appearing to be the perfect, handsome, and well-dressed husband. His nefariousness doesn’t stop there, however, as he is also revealed to be Ziggy’s father. By the end, all roads lead to Perry. By hiding him in plain sight, Moriarty shows how someone who appears well-to-do can easily turn out to be a monster. Perry’s villainy represents the hidden dangers of the supposedly idyllic suburban lifestyle.
Perry’s backstory offers some insight into how he turned into the monster he is. When he was little, Perry was overweight and picked on aggressively. He’s tall and handsome now, but Celeste recognizes when he hits her “[she] bore the brunt of a fat little boy’s violent, suppressed rage” (360). Unfortunately, Perry finds no redemption, but his backstory shows the importance of raising children to be kind and empathetic. Had Perry never been bullied, there is a chance that so much of the violence in Big Little Lies could have been prevented. By telling us about Perry’s childhood, the story shows how the cycle can be broken.
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