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Richard Griffen
Reenie is Iris and Laura’s nursemaid and the housekeeper at Avilion. Overall, she serves as a kind of mother figure to Iris and Laura, particularly after the death of their biological mother, Liliana. At the beginning of the novel, Reenie is presented as a rather conservative figure: she regularly chastises Iris and Laura when their behavior falls short of the strict standards of respectability. Despite being from a working-class background herself, Reenie also aligns herself with the class position of her employers, the Chase family, when the workers in Port Ticonderoga begin striking and rioting during the Great Depression. Indeed, Reenie is deeply loyal, and as the novel progresses she shows a more rebellious side, helping Laura run away from Richard and sleep in Avilion after she has nowhere else to go. Particularly after both of Iris’s parents die, Iris longs for Reenie as the only person she trusts to take care of her. Reenie eventually marries Ron Hincks and has a daughter, Myra. Reenie dies from kidney failure.
Reenie Quotes in The Blind Assassin
The The Blind Assassin quotes below are all either spoken by Reenie or refer to Reenie. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 3 Quotes
She wasn’t married, she was married off, said Reenie, rolling out the gingersnaps. The family arranged it. That’s what was done in such families, and who’s to say it was any worse or better than choosing for yourself? In any case, Adelia Montfort did her duty, and lucky to have the chance, as she was getting long in the tooth—she must have been twenty-three, which was counted as over the hill in those days.
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And then, after the wedding, there was the war. Love, then marriage, then catastrophe. In Reenie’s version, it seemed inevitable.
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Chapter 5 Quotes
Not only were they outside agitators, they were foreign outside agitators, which was somehow more frightening. Small dark men with moustaches, who’d signed their names in blood and sworn to be loyal unto death, and who would start riots and stop at nothing, and set bombs and creep in at night and slit our throats while we slept (according to Reenie). These were their methods, these ruthless Bolsheviks and union organizers, who were all the same at heart (according to Elwood Murray). They wanted Free Love, and the destruction of the family, and the deaths by firing squad of anyone who had money—any money at all—or a watch, or a wedding ring. This was what had been done in Russia. So it was said.
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Reenie Character Timeline in The Blind Assassin
The timeline below shows where the character Reenie appears in The Blind Assassin. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...Iris found them. When Iris comes across these, she thinks about her nursemaid and housekeeper, Reenie, who would always attend to Iris when she hurt herself as a child.
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Chapter 3
...cemetery, which is taller than all the others. She remembers coming here with Laura and Reenie. Now, Iris comes twice a year in order to “tidy up, if for no other...
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...items. Myra often gives Iris things from the shop that no one buys. Myra is Reenie’s daughter and, unlike her mother, is religious. Iris buys a cup of coffee and a...
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Adelia dies of cancer in 1913. During the last month of Adelia’s life, Reenie (who is 13 at the time) and her mother start working at Avilion. Despite being...
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...old fan and writes. Iris’s parents married in 1914. When Iris was young, she quizzed Reenie about the circumstances of their marriage. Reenie was 16 when she started working at Avilion...
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...married a richer or more genteel woman, but like Liliana, he was also serious, and Reenie explained that he wanted someone reliable. Iris imagines that Norval’s proposal was probably awkward yet...
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Reenie’s description of the wedding centers on the Liliana’s outfit and the decorations. One month after...
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According to Reenie, Laura’s birth was long and difficult, and at times it seemed like she was going...
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When Iris and Laura are young, Reenie gives the girls leftover dough from her baking so that they can make bread men...
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...knitting in the afternoon and she usually falls asleep, which is also unusual for her. Reenie compares human reproduction to the bread she bakes, yet although Iris was old enough to...
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...Laura are under the table when suddenly they hear Liliana collapse and her teacup smash. Reenie tells Iris to get Norval, but Iris can’t find him. When Iris returns to the...
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Later that day, Reenie takes Iris and Laura to see Liliana, who’s sleeping with a strange expression on her...
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...items convey a desire for others to “witness” people’s lives. The day after Liliana’s funeral, Reenie sends Iris and Laura out into the garden, her face flushed by crying. The funeral...
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Chapter 5
In the present day, a tornado approaches Port Ticonderoga, and Iris remembers the advice Reenie used to give about never speaking on the phone or having a bath during a...
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...Lilian dies, Laura asks questions about the stillborn baby and she won’t accept the answers Reenie gives her. Liliana’s funeral shook Laura’s faith in God and she suddenly needs to know...
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...gotten pregnant from an extramarital affair. In June, Iris turns 10. One day, Iris overhears Reenie saying that Liliana had been a “saint on earth” and that she’s concerned that Laura...
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...time. Iris is “in awe” of Callie due to her beauty, creativity, and power, but Reenie dismisses her as “one of the floozies.” She and Mrs. Hillcoate disapprovingly discuss a rumor...
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...him and notices that he’s shaking with emotion. Once the ceremony is over, Laura asks Reenie and Mrs. Hillcoate many questions about the idea of sacrificing oneself in the war. Reenie...
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...they treat with hostility. Craving independence, they sneak into town whenever they can, heedless of Reenie’s warnings about the dangers that lurk there. One of Reenie’s brothers is involved with smuggling...
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...it isn’t serious and suggests that Iris call it “my friend” or “a visitor,” but Reenie refers to it as “the curse.” When Laura sees a bloodstain on Iris’s bed, she...
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...Miss Violence and regularly resorts to corporal punishment. He’s merciless and sarcastic, which confuses Laura. Reenie is horrified about Mr. Erskine’s behavior when the girls tell her about it, but he...
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Reenie, however, immediately believes Laura, and she ensures Mr. Erskine is fired by claiming to have...
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...remain hopeful about the future. Iris and Laura are there, in outfits carefully chosen by Reenie to be neither too fancy nor too informal.
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...history of the Labour Day picnic, Norval “stumbled” while delivering his speech. Afterward, Iris helps Reenie with the bake sale. Iris asks Laura to come too, but when Laura says no...
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...“nosy” behavior. Norval comes over, accompanied by an elegant man Iris has never seen before. Reenie calls the man “Mr. Royal Classic,” a nickname derived from the fact that he owns...
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Gossiping about Richard, Reenie claims that he’s “new money” and that he’s gained his fortune by “cheating the Jews.”...
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...Alex Thomas, explaining that he recently dropped out of divinity school after losing his faith. Reenie reacts with suspicion, asking “who is he,” which means she wants to know who Alex’s...
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...the only time all of us were ever in the same room together.” In preparation, Reenie consults a cookbook called The Boston Cooking-School Cookbook, which had once belonged to Adelia. It...
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...Neither of the girls are allowed wine, which annoys Iris. A “dowdy” unmarred cousin of Reenie’s serves the alcohol. The woman whom Iris had assumed was Richard’s wife is actually his...
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...the house as “well preserved,” but Iris knew she actually means “outmoded.” The elaborate dinner Reenie cooks is clearly beyond her skill-set, but Iris feels annoyed at Winifred for not eating...
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...took of Iris, Laura, and Alex, although it only names Alex as “an Out-of-Town Visitor.” Reenie is horrified by the picture, which she considers immodest. Laura, however, goes to see Elwood...
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...who jump on and off trains, traveling the country trying to find work. Laura begs Reenie for leftover bones from the Avilion kitchen, which Reenie reluctantly gives her. Reenie comments on...
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When Reenie tells Laura about Elwood’s claims, Laura nonchalantly refused to deny them. She explains that she...
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...“outside agitators” getting involved. These agitators are thought to be highly suspect, “criminal” and “foreign.” Reenie and Elwood express fears that they will unleash violence similar to that of the Bolshevik...
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...the cellar. Iris cries out in exasperation, but they both laugh at the idea of Reenie finding him by accident. Iris suggests they hide him in the attic. After waiting until...
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...smuggle their leftovers for him, being careful to avoid even bringing him a plate, because Reenie would have noticed it was missing. Presently, Iris reflects that Reenie probably was suspicious, yet...
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Chapter 7
...set fire to its contents in order to preserve Iris’s privacy. This is also what Reenie would have done. Scholars used to frequently write to Iris asking for access to Laura’s...
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...point, Iris is becoming more comfortable and confident about traveling. She writes postcards to Laura, Reenie, and Norval.
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...cramped.” While the newlyweds were gone, Winifred busied herself decorating their house. Iris knows that Reenie would scoff at the “new money” style Winifred favors. When Iris mentions that she had...
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...falls on the ground and Laura accidentally steps on it, but Iris doesn’t care. While Reenie presumably distracts Richard, Iris and Laura go upstairs to be alone. Laura explained that when...
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Iris did not even know that Reenie and Ron were dating. Laura explains that they found many empty bottles in the turret,...
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...would, at the time, have automatically belonged to her husband. Iris inherits Norval’s military medals. Reenie tells Iris that everyone in Port Ticonderoga came to Norval’s funeral and that everyone felt...
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Richard arranges that Reenie and Ron will act as “custodian[s]” of Avilion, fixing up the house and taking care...
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...Iris waits for her at Union Station, Laura never shows up. Speaking over the phone, Reenie assured Iris that she’d seen Laura off on the train. Yet while Laura’s trunk arrived,...
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Chapter 9
...flees as quickly as possible. She makes herself a cup of tea and longs for Reenie. However, without Reenie there, Iris has resolved to take care of both herself and Laura,...
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...excited about the prospect of going to Avilion, but she does look forward to seeing Reenie—until Richard informs her that Reenie has been dismissed. When they get to Avilion, Winifred walks...
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...of Purgatory.” Returning to the story, Iris recalls that she and Laura went to see Reenie on their second day at Avilion. She was now working three days a week at...
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Suddenly, Laura brings up Mr. Erskine and recalls that Iris never believed her, although Reenie did. Laura wonders if he’s dead or if anyone has caught him yet. The day...
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Chapter 11
In the present day, Iris dreams that Reenie is scolding her. In her unconscious she is “on trial.” She wonders if she is...
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As soon as Iris can, she set off to Port Ticonderoga to see Reenie, lying to Richard that Reenie is gravely ill. They agreed to meet at Betty’s Luncheonette,...
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Reenie tells Iris that she can’t repeat the things that happened to Laura because there are...
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In the past, after seeing Reenie in Port Ticonderoga, Iris is left puzzled by the idea that Laura left a message...
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Chapter 13
...about his infidelities, but she tells herself to “Rise above it,” which is the advice Reenie would have given. At this point, Iris interrupts herself to say that she knows the...
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...coffee and Iris orders tea. Laura explains that after escaping BellaVista, she went to Avilion. Reenie secretly kept a spare key after Richard had it locked up. She waited until she...
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Chapter 14
...new, peacetime way of life. Elwood Murray died in the war, as did Ron Hincks. Reenie is still working at Betty’s, despite receiving Ron’s pension and being in bad health. Six...
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Iris finds that going to Avilion is painful. Having let herself in using Reenie’s key, she looks around at the now dilapidated, dusty, and dirty environment. Iris finds the...
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