Across books · Theme
Family and Betrayal
Many cases involve familial conflict, such as quarrels between fathers and sons, jealous brothers, and secret marriages, where family ties are a source of motive for murder and deceit.
Family and Betrayal appears as a literary theme in 13 works in the BetterReads curated set. Each book develops the idea in its own plot, voice, and historical moment — the links below open the book-scoped theme guide beside the text.
Many cases involve familial conflict, such as quarrels between fathers and sons, jealous brothers, and secret marriages, where family ties are a source of motive for murder and deceit.
The novel portrays the breakdown of family bonds, as Goriot's daughters abandon him for social advancement, and Rastignac's family sacrifices for him, only to be forgotten in his pursuit of success.
Family bonds are tested by greed and ambition; old Séchard cheats his son David, and Lucien's selfishness ultimately harms his sister Eve and brother-in-law, revealing the fragility of familial loyalty.
The Shandon family dynamics reveal underlying tensions, with the twins' resemblance and Ernest's selfishness hinting at betrayal, and the murders targeting family members, suggesting deep-seated conflicts.
Familial bonds are tested by secrets, disinheritance, and deception—from the Vanstone sisters' loss of status to the Clare family's cynical detachment—highlighting both loyalty and treachery within kinship.
Family dynamics are fraught with betrayal, such as stepmothers persecuting stepchildren, sisters drowning a sibling, and parents abandoning children, but also feature reconciliation and forgiveness, as in 'The Foundling Prince' and 'The Crystal Apple.'
In each book
Call Mr. Fortune
Many cases involve familial conflict, such as quarrels between fathers and sons, jealous brothers, and secret marriages, where family ties are a source of motive for murder and deceit.
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Father Goriot
The novel portrays the breakdown of family bonds, as Goriot's daughters abandon him for social advancement, and Rastignac's family sacrifices for him, only to be forgotten in his pursuit of success.
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lost_illusions
Family bonds are tested by greed and ambition; old Séchard cheats his son David, and Lucien's selfishness ultimately harms his sister Eve and brother-in-law, revealing the fragility of familial loyalty.
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Murder in the Maze
The Shandon family dynamics reveal underlying tensions, with the twins' resemblance and Ernest's selfishness hinting at betrayal, and the murders targeting family members, suggesting deep-seated conflicts.
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No Name
Familial bonds are tested by secrets, disinheritance, and deception—from the Vanstone sisters' loss of status to the Clare family's cynical detachment—highlighting both loyalty and treachery within kinship.
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Russian Folktales
Family dynamics are fraught with betrayal, such as stepmothers persecuting stepchildren, sisters drowning a sibling, and parents abandoning children, but also feature reconciliation and forgiveness, as in 'The Foundling
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Simon
The relationship between the twin brothers—one convicting the other and later impersonating him—highlights themes of familial betrayal, while the broader Cromarty family dynamics reveal distrust and hidden agendas among
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Six Characters in Search of an Author
The drama centers on a fractured family, with the Father's past actions leading to the Mother's departure, the Step-Daughter's resentment, and the Son's alienation, exploring themes of guilt, shame, and the painful conse
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The Confessions of Arsène Lupin
Family relationships are fraught with conflict and treachery, as seen in the Comte d'Origny imprisoning his wife and kidnapping his son, or the Duc de Sarzeau-Vendôme's tyrannical control over his daughter, highlighting
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The Man Who Knew
Family ties are fraught with betrayal, including John Minute's estranged wife and children, Jasper Cole's hidden parentage, and the conflict between Frank Merrill and his uncle, which culminates in murder and suspicion.
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The Red Room
Familial relationships are fraught with betrayal and manipulation, particularly between brothers Arvid and Charles Nicholas Falk, where financial deceit and emotional control replace genuine kinship.
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The Square Emerald
The Druze sisters' pact and subsequent betrayals, along with Peter Dawlish's search for his child, underscore themes of familial loyalty, abandonment, and the destructive consequences of broken family bonds.
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vanity_fair
Family relationships are marked by selfishness, manipulation, and betrayal, such as Mrs. Bute's scheming for Miss Crawley's fortune, Pitt's cold calculation, and the Sedleys' estrangement from their daughter Amelia.
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