Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence, death, child death, rape, child sexual abuse, addiction, and physical abuse. The very structure of Triptych allows Slaughter to deliver a sharp critique of the US justice system’s many flaws, as well as its tendency to condone and perpetuate injustices upon many of those whose lives are affected by its processes—both inmates and their loved ones in the outside world. Additionally, she examines the many ways in which corruption can spread unchecked on both an individual and an institutional level, as certain officers exploit their power for their own gain while the broader organization sometimes fails the very people it is meant to protect. These complex and controversial topics manifest in the novel in a variety of ways, and each of the main characters becomes an avatar of a different angle on the theme. For example, Angie has adopted a deeply cynical attitude toward her work because she is far too accustomed to seeing the system fail. As a child, she was never adequately protected and was repeatedly exposed to dangerous people and situations. Now, as a detective, she witnesses the ramifications of trusting in an inadequate system that does not prioritize the safety of women and children, even when certain threats have been definitively identified.

Corruption in the American Justice System

The Long-Term Impact of Trauma

The Tension Between Outward Appearances and Hidden Realities

Values & Ideas

Appearance Versus Reality

Books on Justice & Injustice

Challenging Authority

Society

Class

Social Issues

Relationships

Family

Emotions & Behavior

Hate & Anger

Life & Time

Mortality & Death

Best Sellers

New York Times Best Sellers

Power

Safety & Danger

Truth & Lies

Karin Slaughter

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Book Brief

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About Triptych

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Triptych Summary and Study Guide

Background

Triptych Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1 Triptych Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2 Triptych Part 2 Summary & Analysis

Part 3 Triptych Part 3 Summary & Analysis

Part 4 Triptych Part 4 Summary & Analysis

Part 5 Triptych Part 5 Summary & Analysis

Part 6 Triptych Part 6 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

Triptych Character Analysis

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Themes

Triptych Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Triptych Symbols & Motifs

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Triptych Important Quotes with Page Numbers

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Triptych Essay Topics

Triptych

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