They Never Learn: A Deep Dive into Layne Fargo's Thriller
Layne Fargo's They Never Learn is an adult thriller that delves into themes of vigilante justice, trauma, and the complexities of female rage. Spanning 340 pages, the novel presents a unique narrative structure and explores morally grey characters, making it a compelling, though potentially problematic, read.
Plot Overview
The story revolves around Dr. Scarlett Clark, an English professor with a dark secret: she murders men on her college campus who have sexually assaulted or abused women, ensuring they face a justice system they've evaded. In a parallel timeline, freshman Carly Schiller arrives at Gorman University, seeking escape from an emotionally abusive father and a chance to start anew. When Carly's roommate, Allison Hadley, is sexually assaulted at a party, Carly becomes consumed by a desire for revenge.
Characters: A Study in Contrasts
The novel centers around two protagonists: college student Carly and college professor Scarlett. The narrative cleverly conceals the fact that they are the same person until around the 150-page mark.
- Carly: Initially portrayed as an anxious loner, Carly's experiences with sexual assault and the failures of the justice system transform her. Her relationship with Allison, characterized by Allison's popularity and Carly's attraction to her, adds another layer to her character.
- Scarlett: As Scarlett, Carly has evolved into an intelligent and confident murderess. She bears resemblance to Teddy from Samantha Downing's For Your Own Good, both being morally ambiguous teachers. Scarlett is bisexual and in a romantic relationship with another professor, Mina, though their connection feels somewhat underdeveloped.
A significant point of contention is the portrayal of male characters. The novel seemingly depicts almost every male character as a sexual assaulter or generally disgusting in their behavior towards women. Even a seemingly nice guy, Wes, is revealed to be bad at the last second as a shocking plot twist. This exaggeration can feel heavy-handed, potentially undermining the novel's message.
Narrative Style and Pacing
They Never Learn employs a dual timeline, narrated in the first-person perspective of Scarlett/Carly. The timelines initially appear to be happening concurrently on the same college campus. The author misdirects the audience to delay the reveal that Scarlett and Carly are the same person in different times. The only real indications that they are the same person are Carly's burgeoning anger issues and both Carly and Scarlett showing an attraction towards women.
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- Dual Timelines: One timeline follows Scarlett in the present, while the other explores Carly's past and her transformation into a killer. This narrative device allows for a unique exploration of character development and the origins of Scarlett's vigilantism.
- First-Person Perspective: The reader is privy to Scarlett/Carly's thoughts and motivations, creating a sense of intimacy and complicity.
The decision to showcase Scarlett's present and her murderous origins offers a complex storytelling mechanism and character development tool. It allows the audience to witness the transformation of a young, innocent girl into a methodical killer.
Themes and Controversies
- Feminist Rage and Vigilante Justice: The novel explores the theme of women reclaiming their power in a world that often ignores their suffering. Scarlett's actions can be seen as an extreme response to a broken system, offering a sense of catharsis for some readers. However, this also raises ethical questions about the justification of violence and the potential weaponization of feminism.
- Moral Ambiguity: They Never Learn grapples with the complexities of morality, forcing readers to confront their own beliefs about justice and revenge. Scarlett is not portrayed as a heartless monster; she cares deeply about others and sees herself as stopping other monsters.
- Problematic Representation: The novel has faced criticism for perpetuating harmful stereotypes. The portrayal of Scarlett as an awkward outsider with social anxiety who becomes unhinged reinforces the harmful stigma that people with mental health issues are prone to violence. Furthermore, the explicit scenes of sexual assault can be triggering for victims.
Potential Triggers
Readers should be aware of the presence of potentially triggering content, including:
- Sexual assault/attempted sexual assault
- Detailed murder scenes
- Violence
- Sexism/Misogyny
- Gaslighting of a sexual assault victim
- Grooming
The Author's Style
Layne Fargo's writing style is propulsive, with short chapters that urge the reader forward at a breakneck pace. The novel is described as an experience, darkly hypnotic and intensely compulsive. Fargo's prose seeps into your thoughts like blood through floorboards.
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