Fingersmith

Compare and contrast the characters of Sue and Maud. Which character is more innocent? More knowledgeable? Why do they fall in love with each other?

Is Mrs. Sucksby a sympathetic character? Why or why not?

How does fortune function in the novel? Explore the various meanings of fortune, and its counterpart, misfortune. How does it relate to Maud and Sue or Gentleman and Mrs. Sucksby?

Discuss the notion of liberty. Who is freer, the master or the servant? How does liberty impact Sue’s and Maud’s fates? How does gender intersect with liberty?

Libraries, literacy, and books all play central roles in the novel. How is Mr. Lilly’s library significant? Why does Maud lament her literacy? Why does Sue lament her illiteracy? What does the reader make of Maud’s decision to write at the novel’s end?

How does inheritance impact the characters, particularly Sue and Maud, in all of its various meanings? Is inheritance destiny? Does nature play a larger role in developing personality, or does nurture?

What role does Gentleman play in Sue’s life? In Maud’s? How is his moniker ironic? How is it appropriate?

How does gender impact opportunity? That is, why is Gentleman even necessary to Mrs. Sucksby’s conspiracy? To Maud’s predicament? To Sue’s fortune?