The Summer of Broken Rules

One of the challenges that Meredith faces throughout the novel is that she does not know how to exist as her own person, free from the influences and expectations of others. She often relies on the people around her to determine what she should or shouldn’t be able to do. To emphasize this initial dynamic, the first action Meredith takes is a role that Claire used to fill for the family: the job of ordering the truffle fries at their traditional lunch spot on the way to Martha’s Vineyard. However, she does not step up willingly; rather, she does so because she feels as though she is obligated to somehow fill the gap that her sister’s death has caused in the larger family structure, thus attempting to become Claire rather than being herself (3). Similarly, when Meredith reunites with Sarah and explains how she insulted Ben over the phone, Sarah uses one of Claire’s favorite phrases for Meredith “assert yourself” (17). The early chapters thus establish Meredith as a character who is dependent upon the opinions of those around her to decide who to be.

When the family game of Assassin is announced, Meredith takes this development as her opportunity to step out of Claire’s shadow and win the game in honor of her older sister. At first, she tries to think like Claire would and considers playing by Claire’s tactics but quickly recognizes that Claire’s aggressive, all-in offensive approach won’t work for her. She knows that she is not like Claire and that she will need to determine a strategy that works for her own personality to win the game. Thus, she makes an early pact with Wit, strategically gaining access to information about people on the groom’s side of the family. She carefully considers what information to share and withhold from everyone, even when she knows that withholding certain information might cause conflict with the people from whom she’s keeping secrets.

Meredith’s elimination from the game momentarily arrests her growing sense of independence from others’ expectations, and for a time, she sulks over her defeat and marinates in the unhealthy conviction that she has somehow disappointed Claire. However, with the continued help of Wit, her friends, and her family, Meredith finally recognizes that she can make her own choices without having to filter everything through her “Claire lens.” Wit’s victory in the final showdown, accomplished with Meredith’s assistance, is thus met with bright sunlight that Meredith associates with Claire’s joy at the outcome of the game. Not only does Meredith feel Claire’s pride, but she also acknowledges her own internal achievement at having taken control of herself and become part of something larger: the mutual connection and reunion with the people she calls family. Thus, although she does not win the game of Assassin, she wins much for herself nonetheless.