Across books · Theme
Obsession and Control
Mrs. Endicott's obsessive need to control her husband and her own fate drives her actions, including her willingness to fake a suicide attempt and her cold, calculated responses to the investigation, while Roberts's obsessive hatred of Mrs. Endicott mirrors this theme.
Obsession and Control appears as a literary theme in 3 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.
Mrs. Endicott's obsessive need to control her husband and her own fate drives her actions, including her willingness to fake a suicide attempt and her cold, calculated responses to the investigation, while Roberts's obsessive hatred of Mrs. Endicott mirrors this theme.
Haddo's obsessive pursuit of Margaret and his desire to control her through hypnotism and magical experiments highlight themes of domination, while Arthur's obsessive fear for Margaret's safety drives the plot.
Characters like Jason exhibit a pathological need for control, expressed through cruelty, manipulation, and greed, while Quentin's obsession with virginity and honor drives him toward self-destruction.
In each book3 titles
murder_by_the_clock_se
Mrs. Endicott's obsessive need to control her husband and her own fate drives her actions, including her willingness to fake a suicide attempt and her cold, calculated responses to the investigation, while Roberts's obse
Open theme guide →
the_magician_se
Haddo's obsessive pursuit of Margaret and his desire to control her through hypnotism and magical experiments highlight themes of domination, while Arthur's obsessive fear for Margaret's safety drives the plot.
Open theme guide →
the_sound_and_the_fury
Characters like Jason exhibit a pathological need for control, expressed through cruelty, manipulation, and greed, while Quentin's obsession with virginity and honor drives him toward self-destruction.
Open theme guide →