We Were Liars Themes

E. Lockhart’s novel We Were Liars documents the wealthy Sinclair family’s fall from grace. The Sinclair sisters—Penny, Carrie, and Bess, all of whom stand to inherit a lot of money from their father, Harris—become greedy and jealous of one another after their mother, Tipper Taft, dies, and they begin to split up her prized possessions. Such greed dominates their lives, as the sisters spend most of their time drinking…

In We Were Liars, the Sinclair family is obsessed with keeping up appearances, which is manifested in a clan-like mentality that breeds racism and bigotry. The novel suggests that this focus on appearances is inherently exclusionary, and that the traditional image of old, powerful New England families belies dangerous beliefs about ethnic and cultural superiority. In particular, Harris’s need to keep up appearances only serves to hurt those he loves, including his own children…

We Were Liars is a meditation on the nature of objective truth. As the title itself implies, lies, misrepresentation, and fabrication are woven through the novel. Although Lockhart never explains why Cady, Mirren, Johnny, and Gat are called the Liars by the rest of the family, the constant use of this moniker reminds readers to maintain a certain level of skepticism. And whether the characters in the novel are lying to get…

In many ways, We Were Liars is a story of star-crossed lovers, as Cady is forced to choose between her all-encompassing love for Gat and her place within the family. Many of the characters—especially Harris Sinclair—see romance as inferior to their primary dedication to family, and in consequence, attempt to thwart any budding romance that threatens their family bond. Throughout We Were Liars, family ties and romantic love are portrayed as conflicting desires…