How is parenthood portrayed in the novel? How does it inform a character’s motivations and choices? Are childless characters such as PT and Faye portrayed in nuanced ways?

Analyze whether Corrine Holland is a villain driven by greed or a tragic figure whose ruthlessness is a response to loss and betrayal.

Faye’s wealth and fame position her as sophisticated and urbane in the eyes of many other characters. How does she use these qualities to assert newfound power? How is her self-made wealth contrasted with the “old-money” of characters like Campbell and Henry?

Faye is aroused by Henry’s height, bulk, strength, and classical masculinity. How does her desire for him reflect the very qualities that make him dangerous? To what extent does Faye idealize him?

During her period of captivity, Faye oscillates between wanting to escape and enjoying her idyllic isolation. How do these feelings function as a microcosm for her confused feelings about Henry in general?

How do Faye’s feelings for Henry change when she learns that Henry has lost all of his money? Does his vulnerability make him more or less attractive to her?

Faye explicitly references Susanna Moore’s In the Cut (1995). How does Helpless engage with the literary tradition of the erotic thriller, particularly in its exploration of consensual submission and female desire?

The novel repeatedly engages with the concept of “helplessness.” How do the different forms of helplessness Faye experiences in her marriage versus with Henry challenge conventional understandings of power? Use at least three examples to support your position.