The Tenant

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content, emotional abuse, and death.

The inciting incident of the novel is the loss of Blake’s job, which defines who he is as a person. He is focused on financial success, insisting that he does not want to live the same quiet, humble life that his father lives in Cleveland. As a result, he has worked for a decade at Coble & Roy, doing whatever he needs to do to ruthlessly work his way to the position of Vice President. The defining trait of Blake’s character is his focus on wealth, believing that it is the key to happiness for himself and Krista. Because of this, when Blake loses his job, his life begins to spiral out of his control due to the effects of the subsequent financial instability. He is forced to bring Whitney into his home, tarnishing the brownstone that has served as the symbol of his wealth and success.

While this choice has physical consequences in Blake’s life—the rash on his skin, his lack of sleep, the fruit flies in his kitchen, and more—it also has consequences for his mental health.