Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Secret History, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Human Capacity for Violence
Intellectual Pursuits and Reasonability
Guilt
Manipulation and Paranoia
Beauty and Terror
Class and Identity
Summary
Analysis
Richard Papen is now 28 years old, and he is recalling the events that led up to this point in his life. Richard grew up in Plano, California. His father ran a gas station and his mother answered phones for a living. Richard is not fond of his childhood and claims not to remember much of it. However, he recalls that his parents did not treat him well and he associates his childhood with “a melancholy feeling.” He also remembers that his family was relatively poor, and he had difficulty making friends.
It is often unclear in this novel, whether Richard can be trusted. At times, he is surely an unreliable narrator, a fact to which he openly admits. Elsewhere, he withholds information, and this is one of those instances. Richard remembers more of his childhood than he lets on, though it is obvious that he would prefer not to remember it. In place of his genuine memories, Richard provides a romantic sentiment—“a melancholy feeling”—which allows the reader to create a more interesting background for him than he can create for himself. In reality, it seems that Richard comes for a lower-middle class background and that his childhood was largely uneventful.
Themes
Richard finds his upbringing unsatisfactory compared to those of his friends. He is jealous of Charles and Camilla (who are orphaned twins), Francis (whose birth was the result of a fling between a 17-year-old girl and a rockstar), and Bunny (who had a typical American childhood in the suburbs). The two things all of them have in common are a love for one another and a knowledge of Greek.
Richard’s jealousy of his friends’ upbringings again highlights his flair for the dramatic. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Richard’s upbringing might even be the most desirable compared to those of his friends. Importantly, although the reader doesn’t yet know the full extent of Camilla’s, Charles’s, Francis’s, and Bunny’s backgrounds, Richard does. He is telling this story in retrospect, and he knows that his friends’ upbringings were not as great as he makes them seem.
Themes
After graduating high school, Richard spent two years studying Greek at a local college while majoring in pre-med. While there, he excelled at Greek but hated his pre-med classes and found them disgusting. Without telling his parents, he switched his major to English, even though it wouldn’t help him make money. He liked English better but was unhappy living at home. One night, Richard found a pamphlet for Hampden College, a liberal arts school in Vermont. He decided to apply. Over the next few months, Richard fought with his parents about Hampden. His parents were worried about the cost, as well as the point. However, after many arguments, he ended up at Hampden. It was a stressful time in his life, and he ultimately concludes, “Even today I do not fully understand the chain of events that brought me to Hampden.”
Once again, it is clear that Richard does not like talking about his background. He provides only the necessary details to explain how he came to Hampden and does not elaborate. Throughout the story, Richard’s background and his lack of money will prove to be an issue.
Themes
When he arrives at Hampden, Richard falls in love with his living accommodations, which he describes as “a white room with big north-facing windows, monkish and bare, with scarred oak floors and a ceiling slanted like a garret’s.” During his first days at Hampden, he is happy in a way that he never was back home. Soon, it is time to sign up for classes, so Richard meets with Georges Laforgue, a French teacher and Richard’s academic advisor. Richard explains to Georges that he wants to take Greek, but Georges says that likely isn’t possible because there is only one Greek professor, and he is particular about who he lets into his class.
It is often unclear why Richard has a fondness for certain things and people. This is true of his living conditions, which appear largely unremarkable. More than anything else, it seems as though Richard enjoys his independence and the distance he’s put between himself and his parents. However, he will not be able to hide his background entirely, no matter how far away he moves from California.
Themes
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The Greek professor’s name is Julian Morrow and Georges tells Richard that Julian is independently wealthy and doesn’t accept payment to teach. He also informs Richard that many professors at Hampden operate in similarly odd and difficult ways. Though Richard is shocked by what Georges tells him, he still wants to take Greek, so he goes to talk to Julian. When Richard knocks on Julian’s door, Julian only opens the door enough to stick his face out. Richard asks to join his Greek class, but Julian refuses to take him on as a student, despite having only five people in his class.
Academia is a completely foreign world to Richard. He is shocked by Georges’s frank way of speaking and by the strange habits of Hampden’s professors. Julian is introduced as a mysterious figure; his background isn’t expanded upon, and he doesn’t even let Richard fully see him the first time they meet. In addition, the fact that he only has five students is bizarre, even for a small liberal arts university.
Themes
Over his first week at Hampden, Richard meets some acquaintances, but no one he considers a close friend. When he asks people about Julian, everyone knows about him, although no one seems to know the truth of his background. Richard is fascinated by Julian and spends much of his time observing him as he walks around with his five students. All of Julian’s students—Bunny, Henry, Charles, Camilla, and Francis—stand out to Richard compared to the other people his age that he meets at Hampden. However, Richard finds them unapproachable, and he is therefore hesitant to talk to them.
Julian and his students retain a level of mystique for Richard during his first week at Hampden. The Greek students act like a clique, which Richard desperately wants to be a part of—something that underscores Richard’s yearning to find a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
Themes
During his second week, Richard overhears a conversation between Bunny, Charles, and Camilla while in the library. They are having an esoteric argument about translating Greek, and Richard takes an interest. When he hears that the three Greek students cannot come to a firm conclusion, he offers his own suggestion. Bunny, Charles, and Camilla are surprised, but find his answer satisfactory. After, there is an awkward round of introductions, and then Henry shows up. Henry is more standoffish than the other Greek students, but he does introduce himself to Richard. When Bunny tells Henry about Richard’s solution to their problem, Henry is intrigued, though he doesn’t fully approve of Richard’s suggestion. Before long, the Greek students leave, but before they go, Bunny suggests that Richard try talking to Julian again.He
Richard proves himself to be quite competent in Greek. Later in the novel, it becomes clear that Julian’s students (except Bunny) are all exceptional, so the fact that Richard is able to help them is no small feat. Additionally, there is a degree of dramatic irony present in this section, since readers know from the novel’s opening that Henry and the others will eventually kill Bunny—something that none of them know yet.
Themes
After his conversation with the Greek students, Richard heads to Dr. Roland’s office. Dr. Roland is a psychology teacher whom Richard works for as part of his work-study. Richard asks Dr. Roland if he could be paid early for his work. Dr. Roland is skeptical, but Richard lies and says he needs the money soon because he is having car trouble. Dr. Roland gives him advice on where to fix his car and then writes him a 200-dollar check. Richard is amazed at the amount and immediately heads into town where he buys himself expensive clothes.
Unlike the other Greek students, Richard must work to earn his position at Hampden. However, in order to hide his lower-class background, Richard uses the funds he earns from his work study to purchase expensive clothing—a move that illustrates Richard’s willingness to lie and be somewhat deceitful for his own benefit.
Themes
The next day, Richard returns to Julian’s office. This time, to Richard’s surprise, Julian lets him in and begins asking him questions about himself. Julian is curious about Richard’s background and why he wants to study Greek. The two of them cover a variety of other topics as well, many of which Richard pretends to know more about than he actually does. Richard also fabricates his background to make his life sound more exciting to Julian. In retrospect, Richard feels as though he handled himself quite well, despite being overwhelmed.
In this portion of the novel, Richard develops a “fake it until you make it” attitude. Wanting to impress Julian, he pretends to be someone he is not while also pretending to know more than he does. Embarrassed by his background, Richard seeks to create a new identity for himself—one that is more in line with the elites of Hampden.
Themes
At the end of their conversation, Julian offers to take Richard on as his student, though he has two conditions. First, Richard must go to the registrar and make Julian his academic advisor. Second, Richard must drop all his current classes, except French, and sign up for Julian’s classes instead. In fact, the vast majority of Richard’s classes for the rest of his time at Hampden will be with Julian. Richard is excited but is unsure of Julian’s plan. He briefly considers declining the offer, but ultimately accepts it. Richard then tells Georges the plan. Georges tells Richard it is a terrible idea, and that no student should only be taught by one professor. However, Richard does not listen to Georges’s advice and becomes Julian’s student.
Georges’s warning to Richard is correct; Julian’s teaching practices are highly irregular and carry with them a number of risks, many of which become apparent by the conclusion of the novel. However, Richard is too caught up in the mystique of Julian and his students—and is perhaps too talented at Greek—to decline Julian’s offer. Although Richard succeeds in becoming a member of this elite group, he also isolates himself from the rest of the college in the process.
Themes
Richard heads to his first class with Julian, which is held in Julian’s office. On the way, he spots Francis and tries to avoid him. However, Francis waits for him and asks him if he is the new student. Richard says he is, and Francis asks, “Cubitum eamus?” Richard doesn’t know what he is asking so the conversation ends and the two of them move into Julian’s office. When they enter, they find Bunny teasing Henry, who has just purchased a Montblanc pen. Bunny asks Richard what kind of pens he uses, to which Richard responds, “Ballpoints.”
Richard is intimidated by Francis, which is why he tries to avoid him, albeit to no avail. The question Francis asks Richard roughly translates to “Will you go to bed with me?” in Latin. This opens up a question about Francis’s sexuality that will become more prominent as the novel progresses. In addition, the conversation about the pens once again highlights the class difference between Richard and his fellow Greek students. Montblanc pens are rare and absurdly expensive, whereas Richard’s ballpoints are standard and cheap.
Themes
Henry questions Richard about his knowledge of Greek literature. Though Richard has read some of the works Henry mentions, he’s unfamiliar with others. Trying to impress Henry, Richard lies and says that he’s read Plotinus, though he thinks Henry sees through the lie. Bunny chastises Henry for treating Richard so harshly and, to Richard’s delight, Charles comes over and kindly introduces himself. While introductions are being made, Julian enters the room and says, “I hope we’re all ready to leave the phenomenal world, and enter into the sublime?”
Again, Richard tries to act as though he knows more than he does, though he is wary of being caught by Henry. Although Henry appears unimpressed by Richard, his judgments are largely unfair, as Bunny points out. In fact, Richard has read a lot of Greek literature, and the fact that he hasn’t read Plotinus certainly doesn’t undermine his otherwise admirable knowledge.
Themes
Richard is fascinated by Julian’s lectures. Julian begins by talking about the Furies who drove people mad by “turn[ing] up the volume of the inner monologue” and making people “so much themselves that they couldn’t stand it.” Because of the danger posed by one’s own mind, the Greeks needed ways to lose themselves, such as fighting in battle. Julian jokes that his students could easily take over Hampden because of the military knowledge they’ve gained from their readings. The students riff back and forth on how they would capture Hampden before Julian refocuses the class to center around questions of violence. He reminds his students that though the moments of violence in Greek literature are brutal, they are also the most beautiful. To make his point, he asks Camilla to recite the speech Klytemnestra gives after killing Agamemnon, which she then does.
Julian’s lectures in this first part of the novel are full of foreshadowing, while also presenting several of The Secret’s History’s primary thematic concerns. Later in the novel, particularly after Bunny’s death, the Greek students find themselves unable to escape their own inner monologues. In addition, the speech Julian asks Camilla to recite, which is from Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, foreshadows the plot of The Secret History. Like Agamemnon, The Secret History’s plot is structured around a violent act that leads to more violent acts.
Themes
As Camilla recites the speech, light streams in from the window and onto her face, causing Richard to take note of her beauty. Julian asks his pupils why the passage is so beautiful, and they eventually conclude that “beauty is terror.” They come to this conclusion via Aristotle, who claims that objects that are disturbing or grotesque in real life often become beautiful in art. After the discussion on beauty and violence, Julian says that people have only one desire and asks what it is. Bunny gives the answer he is looking for, which is: “to live forever.”
Richard’s attraction to Camilla is a key feature of their relationship, although he is too socially awkward to act on it for much of the story. Julian’s lesson here—that “beauty is terror”—is a key insight for the novel moving forward, although it’s arguable that it is a slight misinterpretation of Aristotle’s ideas. What Aristotle observes about the realm of art, Julian and his students bring into real life. Additionally, this passage contains a bit of dark irony. Tartt chooses to let Bunny say “to live forever,” even though the reader already knows that Bunny will die soon.
Themes
The class takes a quick break to serve tea, and then transitions back to the question of madness, particularly Dionysian madness. Julian talks about the mysterious nature of Dionysian madness, which is difficult to intellectualize because it involves the individual concerned to revert to a pre-civilized state of being. Julian believes it is important for people, especially intelligent people, to confront their desire for Dionysian madness, even in the present day. He believes that highly intelligent people do the most to repress their pre-civilized selves, which, if not confronted, can result in violence. Richard is impressed and disturbed by Julian’s lecture and can only imagine what other people would think if they knew what was going on in Julian’s classroom.
Dionysus is the Greek god of festivity, fertility, and ritual madness. In ancient Greece, rituals known now as the Dionysian Mysteries were performed. As Julian says, their purpose is to remove social constraint from those taking part in the ritual. However, Julian’s claim about “highly intelligent people” is one he comes up with on his own. Richard is right to be equally fascinated and concerned by Julian’s lecture because it is an odd mix of facts and history with Julian’s unscrupulous opinions mixed in.
Themes
After class, Richard’s head is still spinning from what he’s experienced. Heading to the post office to send a postcard to his mother, he spots Bunny placing something in his mailbox. As it turns out, Bunny has written him a nearly illegible letter asking him to go to dinner. On his way out of the post office, Richard runs into Dr. Roland, who asks him about his car. Richard makes up a lie and then Dr. Roland starts to pontificate about cars. Richard is bored by Dr. Roland and hardly listens to what he says. Soon after, Dr. Blind enters the post office—a man who is somehow even more boring than Dr. Roland—and the two professors strike up a conversation with one another, allowing Richard to slip out unnoticed. Richard is unsure how either of the two men managed to become college professors.
Bunny’s letter is odd for two reasons. First, it reveals that Bunny has somehow made it into Julian’s highly selective Greek classroom without being able to communicate clearly in English. Second, it seems to be an overly formal gesture. Nonetheless, it is a seemingly kind offer that will allow Richard to get to know one of his new colleagues better. Also, Dr. Roland’s reappearance creates a strong juxtaposition with Julian’s lecture. Regardless of their veracity, Julian’s lectures are rhetorically sophisticated, and his charisma allows him to shine as a professor. Meanwhile, Dr. Roland and Dr. Blind couldn’t be less interesting.
Themes
