In Part 3, Chapter 24, of the novel, there is a crucial exchange between Nicholas and Frank that lays out one of the major themes. After Nicholas loses Kate, Frank reminds him of the advice Nicholas gave him after his wife, Jenny, died: “You said stop looking for joy anymore because you’re not going to find it. Look for purpose. That will get you through” (163). This admonition resonates with much of the novel. In virtually all of the cases the novel presents, the characters find their purpose in family, acting to secure their family’s well-being and security.

The novel sees Hannah doubling down on her decision to live primarily for Bailey’s safety. Bailey’s happiness is the end goal of all her actions. For instance, when Hannah learns that Nicholas plans to enter self-exile to bear the burden of the Organization’s grudge against their family, Hannah’s first instinct is to think of how the news of Nicholas’s disappearance will affect Bailey. Her decision to trust in Owen’s plan signals her faith that he, too, has chosen to prioritize family. Bailey likewise trusts in the plan; her family means more to her than the hollow purpose she finds at work. The home Owen provides Bailey at the end of the novel gives her the space to pursue her craft as a musical songwriter, which supports the idea that he lives for Bailey’s happiness.

Nevertheless, the novel suggests that the prioritization of family has a dark side. After all, Nicholas’s decision to work with Frank stemmed from a desire to liberate his wife and children from financial burden, yet it led to massive suffering both within his family and outside it. It is Quinn, however, who serves as the ultimate foil to Hannah in the lengths she will go for her family, as she has organized her entire life around pursuing retribution for her family’s sake. Wesley’s incarceration motivated her to seek revenge against Owen for the upheaval he caused in the lives of her children, who must grow up without their father. This underscores that familial love and loyalty can be destructive forces when they supersede all concern for others.

The conflict between Frank and Nicholas both epitomizes and resolves the basic tension at play here. The two men find themselves at odds because of their commitment to their respective families’ well-being, but it is ultimately a recognition of this shared priority that enables them to compromise on a plan. The novel thus suggests that prioritizing one’s own family need not entail disregarding the safety and happiness of others; the key is to recognize that other people, too, find purpose in family.