Krisangi Bhargava
“And perhaps most unusual in the context of Hampden – where pseudo-intellects and teenage decadents abounded, and where black clothing was de rigueur – they liked to wear pale clothes, particularly white. In this swarm of cigarettes and dark sophistication they appeared here and there like figures from an allegory, or long-dead celebrants from some forgotten garden party. It was easy to find out who they were, as they shared the distinction of being the only twins on campus. Their names were Charles and Camilla Macaulay. All of them, to me, seemed highly unapproachable. But I watched them with interest whenever I happened to see them: Francis, stooping to talk to a cat on a doorstep; Henry dashing past at the wheel of a little white car, with Julian in the passenger’s seat; Bunny leaning out of an upstairs window to yell something at the twins on the lawn below. Slowly, more information came my way. Francis Abernathy was from Boston and, from most accounts, quite wealthy. Henry, too, was said to be wealthy; what’s more, he was a linguistic genius” (Tartt 19).
Criticism, Conformity, and Cliqueness: A Look into Richard’s Evolution
When was the last time you changed your mind about something, and what factors triggered this shift in perspective? What makes us drawn to people — is it their unique outlook on life? In Donna Tartt’s renowned novel entitled A Secret History, the main character Richard Papen shifts his initial beliefs as the plot progresses, his change in conviction being something most of us experience ourselves. Despite Richard’s initial judgemental interpretations, the Greek group leverages exclusionary tactics over time to promote their sense of superiority. This ultimately drives Richard to want to join the group, promoting the underlying idea of being drawn to those who radiate both a foreign essence and an unique thought process.
Richard’s observations about the stylistic choices of the Hampden demographic showcase how the Greek student’s leverage fashion, specifically light and dark academia, to portray an exclusive appearance to outsiders. Richard has disapproving first impressions of the students studying Greek literature. At the novel’s beginning, Richard comments on the student body’s obsession with dark colors. He specifically points out that Camila and Charles like to go against this trend, wearing pale colors that make them stand out. He compares them to “teenage decadents,” which alludes to the 19th century Decadent movement (Tartt 19). This Western-Europe artistic movement promoted ideals of artificiality and excess, conveying that Richard views Charles and Camila as self-indulgent and extravagant. It also showcases that Richard characterizes the Greek students’ fashion as from another time, furthering the notion of their immortality and superiority. While most students dress in the dark academia aesthetic, Camila chooses softer, pale colors that more closely align with light academia. Richard forms an attraction towards Camila and shifts his disapproving attitude, thus displaying how Richard is drawn to her unique ways. Furthermore, Richard observes the group’s “bottles of ink” and “long black straight pens,” both of which seemed “archaic and troublesome” (19). While their writing tools are outdated, the group uses them to embody the dark academia aesthetic and promote a sense of academic class. These instances demonstrate how the Greek group uses stylistic choices of dark and light academia to promote their exclusivity — thus drawing Richard in.
The Greek students promote a cliquey nature to portray and internalize a sense of superiority. Following the discussion about fashion, Richard also comments about the reputation of the students studying Greek literature. In particular, he claims that they all “seemed highly unapproachable” yet popular, as it was easy to acquire information about them (19). Everyone at Hampden college knows who they are, and the group uses various techniques to bolster their ascendancy. For example, the group also sits out on “typical” college activities, such as parties. Richard affirms, “Having been to every Friday night party since school began, I knew they avoided them like the Black Death” (73). Despite the fact that the group believes they are “above” college parties, they also strive to maintain a reputation of being much more intellectual than the general Hampden community. This, in turn, allows them to promote and embody a sense of sophistication. The group is hyper-fixated on their customs and isolated from the larger Hampden community, which makes being in their clique seem unattainable — precisely what they want.
Despite Richard’s disapproving remarks, the group piques his interest and he begins to idolize them, eventually conforming himself to be accepted by them. At the novel’s beginning, Richard astutely notes that Francis and Henry were said to be very wealthy individuals, which exhibits his infatuation with status and money. He goes on to enviously describe Henry’s exceptional literacy skills, making it clear that Richard admires his and the group’s intellect. This is also evidenced by their extensive discussions about niche Greek literature topics. For instance, the first time Richard attended one of their classes, he was in awe of their discussion, specifically the eloquence of Julian’s teaching techniques. Richard describes, “he was a marvelous talker, a magical talker (…), it is impossible for a mediocre intellect to render the speech of a superior one” (36). Richard goes on to enthusiastically describe the unique topic of discussion regarding loss of self and Plato’s divine madnesses. Richard is infatuated by their thought-provoking discussions and advanced thought processes. Furthermore, once Richard joins the group, he changes his fashion to impress Bunny on their dinner outing. The jacket he wore was “old Brooks Brothers, unlined silk, ivory with stripes of peacock green” (49). Even though Richard is initially critical of the group’s fashion sense, he alters his typical style when going out with Bunny in hopes of gaining his approval. This is a pivotal moment in the text, as Richard’s initial disapproving attitude shifts to one that idolizes the group and seeks validation from them. This stems from the group’s unique, foreign essence, which draws Richard in and pushes him towards conformity.
Overall, Tartt showcases the evolution of Richard’s character, as he changes his mind regarding his first impressions of the Greek students while simultaneously idolizing them. Eventually, he fully joins their clique, which demonstrates an underlying idea of being attracted to those who seem foreign to us. This is also evidenced by Richard’s obsession with Camilla, who carries herself with an unconventional style. The next time you change your mind about a particular situation, think about the internal and external factors fueling this change. After all, Richard’s initial criticism drastically shifted into an insatiable attraction to their group. What if our change in opinions are actually fueled by a lustful desire of the foreign and unknown?