Prince of Tides

An enraged Tom confronts Susan for keeping Renata a secret, even throwing a book at her, but she retains her composure. Tom tells her that the book is about their family, containing a secret so deep only Savannah could have written it. Susan throws Tom off by accusing him of sharing only a doctored version of his family’s history so far. He has told her stories of his grandparents and their eccentricities but not the stories “that really count” (435).

Uncomfortable with Susan’s probing, Tom threatens to take legal action against her. He then accuses her of being a radical feminist who hates men and wants to punish him for his masculinity. It is obvious Tom is being deeply defensive.

Susan puts Tom at ease by telling him about Renata. Renata was a writer Savannah met in a poetry workshop. She and Savannah became friends, with Renata supporting Savannah through one of her breakdowns. Sadly, Renata died by suicide herself a few days after Savannah’s recovery. Renata’s death impacts Savannah badly, making her enter long states of fugue, or dissociation. Savannah decided to adopt Renata as an alter ego and distance herself from the Wingos. Tom is angry at Susan for enabling Savannah’s deception, but she informs him that Savannah’s condition was deteriorating, no matter which identity she went by.