The Girl on the Train

by

Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train: Anna: Three Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Saturday, August 3, 2013. Anna sits alone in the kitchen. Tom is out with some old army buddies, and Evie is sleeping. Anna is bored, but she refuses to turn on the TV or go on the internet—she doesn’t want to see Megan’s face. Anna tries not to think of Rachel, either—though the authorities have confirmed that Rachel isn’t connected to Megan’s disappearance, Anna still fears Rachel coming around to take Evie. Anna feels that Rachel is much more dangerous than the authorities give her credit for.
Rachel’s bombshell memory of seeing Anna near the underpass is followed up by this a brief piece of narration from Anna in which Anna asserts that Rachel is the dangerous one. Hawkins thus keeps readers guessing as to which people—and what information—can be trusted. Meanwhile, Anna’s boredom subtly implies that she isn’t as happy in her role as a wife and mother as she lets on—she seems lonely and under-stimulated rather than happy.
Themes
Women and Society Theme Icon
Gaslighting, Memory, Repression, and the Self  Theme Icon
Secrets and Lies Theme Icon
Motherhood, Duty, and Care Theme Icon