Little Stranger

The two epilogues in the novel, one from the point of view of each main character, explore the limits of control and The Roots of Possessiveness. Olivia’s objection to Jennifer and Xander (who is presented as an antagonist, though he never appears on the page) is that they seek to control her in ways that she feels are inappropriate. Jennifer’s scheming to groom Olivia for a society marriage makes Olivia feel that all her interactions with her mother have been based on coercion. Olivia further objects to Xander’s sexist control; he has demanded she change her hair color and instructs her to speak only when he wishes to hear her input.

Olivia’s sense that these forms of control are intolerable but Malachi’s sexual control is desirable indicates the role of choice in the text. The novel suggests that Olivia can choose the extent to which she is controlled. Olivia isn’t done Exploring the Allure of Taboo, but she has a better understanding of her sexual identity and her relationship to kink. With this character growth and development, Rivers puts Olivia’s final interaction with Malachi in the text firmly in the arena of consenting non-consent, as opposed to the grayer area of dub-con. This choice is similarly framed as important for the “happy ending” for both of the protagonists. For Olivia, choosing Malachi (and telling her father that she plans to be with Malachi) shows that she is no longer conflicted about being “wrong” for desiring Malachi. In these final pages, as Olivia accepts herself and her relationship with Malachi without shame, she completes her character arc by taking full control of her life for the first time.

For Malachi, Olivia’s free choice means that he feels important to someone for the first time in his life. He therefore learns that releasing control can have more positive emotional benefits than exerting control over them, which, in turn, helps him enjoy the control that Olivia willingly grants him. Olivia asserts her conviction that nothing is amiss with Malachi and disregards his worries that his ASPD or his selective mutism means there is something “wrong” with him that makes him unworthy of her love. Malachi, despite having confidence in Olivia’s position, still plans to practice helpful behaviors like taking medication and seeking therapy, illustrating his completion of his own character arc; he matures enough to understand the issue of control in his relationship with Olivia and to grant her equal standing, and he comes to understand the importance of therapeutic measures to support his mental health. With the happy endings of the two protagonists, the novel also addresses, for the final time, the question of What Makes a “Real” Family. The narrative illustrates that for Olivia and Malachi, their intimacy and trust are the foundations of family that transcend other societal definitions.