The Obsession

In The Obsession, Nora Roberts argues that true identity is not a permanent stain inherited from family but a deliberate creation forged through moral courage and personal choice. The novel follows Naomi’s journey from being the daughter of a notorious serial killer to becoming a self-defined individual, suggesting that while one’s past is inescapable, it does not have to dictate one’s future. Through Naomi’s persistent efforts to build a new life, Roberts illustrates that the self can be reclaimed and redefined, even in the shadow of profound trauma and infamy.

Naomi’s primary strategy for escaping her father’s legacy is to actively construct a new identity. She legally changes her surname from Bowes to Carson, her mother’s given name, and adopts an itinerant lifestyle to outrun the notoriety that follows her. This physical and legal separation is mirrored by her professional life as a photographer, a career that provides a powerful metaphor for her quest for self-determination. By controlling the camera, Naomi reframes the world, choosing her own subjects and compositions. This act of framing is a direct inversion of her childhood experience, where she was framed by the media and her father’s crimes. Her photography is not merely a job but a tool of empowerment, allowing her to shape her own