Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

HR has mandated that Eleanor ease back into work over a series of half-days. After Friday morning of her first week, she meets Raymond at the cafe for lunch. Eleanor has printed articles about the fire. She prepares to face them with her friend beside her. She pulls the articles out of a manila envelope she took from the office.

The first article is entitled “‘Pretty but deadly’ kiddie killer ‘fooled us all,’ neighbors say” (320). The neighbors quoted in the article say Eleanor and Marianne were polite and well-spoken but that they showed signs of abuse from their mother (whose real name is Sharon Smyth).

The second article, “Maida Vale murder latest: two dead, plucky orphan recovers” (321), reports that young Eleanor has recovered from her injuries from the fire. It also says that Eleanor’s Mummy, Sharon, died at the scene of her crime. Sharon sedated and restrained both of her daughters before setting the fire, then attempted to escape before succumbing to smoke inhalation. Eleanor escaped but re-entered the house, attempting to save Marianne from inside a locked wardrobe.