The Guest Emma Cline Ending Explained and Review
by A Maria
Updated Jun 26, 2023
The Guest
In the opening pages of Emma Cline's "The Guest," the central character, Alex, finds herself straying from a lavish dinner party taking place in a grand Long Island residence. Drawn by curiosity, she ventures into an empty, devoid-of personality-room. Inside, there is minimal decoration—a solitary armchair, a vase with a single flower, an artificial log in an unused fireplace, and a collection of unattractive yet likely expensive trinkets.
Among them, one object catches her attention—an intricately carved stone, its form evoking either an animal or an abstract shape. In this otherwise lifeless space, the stone stands out as the sole item of interest, offering a touch of beauty amidst the sterility. The room itself feels devoid of purpose, almost as if it were a non-room, devoid of life and purpose.
The Guest Emma Cline Ending Explained
Regrettably, Alex's plan begins to unravel as she struggles to maintain the calculated focus necessary for her scheme to succeed. Despite her efforts, a few minor slip-ups—a traffic accident, and a flirtatious conversation with a young man at a party—test Simon's patience and erode his previous indifference and curiosity towards her. The very traits she had skillfully manipulated to secure her invitation into his world now work against her.
Simon's assistant swiftly escorts her to the train station, providing her with a one-way ticket back to the city, closing the door on her ill-fated endeavor. Refusing to accept defeat, Alex clings to a flicker of hope, convincing herself that she can win back Simon's favor at his annual Labour Day party. Armed with nothing but determination, she embarks on a journey through the exclusive enclave, relying on her wits to acquire food and shelter over the next six days, despite her lack of funds, a broken phone, and a suitcase filled with impractical but expensive attire.
Alex's subsequent adventures soon fall into a predictable pattern. She employs her ability to deceive her way into various situations—an invitation to a party, entry into the vacant home of one of Simon's acquaintances, access to a beach club—capitalizing on the assumption that, as a young, attractive, well-dressed white woman, she naturally belongs in these privileged spaces.
She extracts small benefits along the way—a meal, a place to rest, some stolen money or jewelry—before a misstep or mishap forces her to move on. While these episodes are vividly portrayed, they lack significant impact. Alex's presence barely disturbs the lives of the elite residents of this affluent suburb. The occasional losses or damages she causes go largely unnoticed or inconsequential, leaving her relatively unscathed.
Alex remains resolute in her quest to make as little impact as possible. She calculates the boundaries of each situation, determining how far she can push, what she can safely pilfer, and what must be left behind. By retreating into silence whenever conflicts arise, she manages to evade scrutiny, blending into the background. However, her mounting exhaustion and desperation gradually expose her fragile facade. She can temporarily navigate among the excessively wealthy, but she can never truly belong.
What is the Plot of The Guest by Emma Cline?
All is not as it appears in Emma Cline's novel, "The Guest," a seemingly straightforward tale of a woman being expelled from her rich lover's Long Island beach house in the waning days of summer because of an embarrassing incident at a party. Convinced that her expulsion is only temporary, Alex devises a plan to effortlessly reenter Simon's life at his Labor Day party, scheduled for the end of the week. She believes that all she needs to do is wait out the next five days.
What unfolds may be interpreted as an amusing series of misadventures disrupting the summer vacation of the upper class, but under Cline's masterful command, every sentence sharp as a scalpel, a woman straddling the line between welcome and unwelcome guest becomes a profoundly destabilizing force. And not just for her hosts but for the very fabric of the novel itself.
You would be forgiven for experiencing a sense of familiarity with "The Guest." Cline's prose, at times, evoking a vintage quality, plunged me into a shimmering state of déjà vu, reminiscent of the agility and subtlety found in the works of John Cheever, who also exposed the decay beneath affluent suburbia. Moreover, Alex—a beautiful, pill-popping 22-year-old who employs sex as a means to an end—ticks all the boxes of the apathetic, deliberately destructive heroines portrayed in Joan Didion's "Play It as It Lays" and Jean Rhys's "Good Morning, Midnight."
However, while those authors ultimately arrive at a sort of clarity regarding their protagonists' pasts and motivations, Cline opts to keep Alex shrouded in mystery—a woman teetering on the edge, unknown. What we do know is that Alex's New York City roommates evicted her a month ago after she pilfered their pills and jewelry and failed to contribute to the rent.
She is no longer welcome in certain hotels or restaurants and owes money to an individual named Dom, whose menacing messages plague her malfunctioning cellphone throughout the course of the novel. She is a fugitive call girl pretending to be someone else—just one of many "girls in drag as girls," as Cline eloquently describes. Prior to her exile "out east," Alex maintained a running list of reminders: "Keep fingernails clean.
Keep breath sweet. Don't leave toothpaste in the sink basin." She must be appealing yet invisible. Alex is aware of her replaceability, merely a passive piece of social furniture—her presence only required, occupying the general form of a young woman. To survive the five days until Labor Day, she drifts from house parties to beach clubs, assuming the guise of a party girl, a family friend, or a seductive siren, meticulously studying people's desires and learning how to fulfill them.
"Even a fleeting touch of their elbow or the gentlest squeeze of an arm could disarm any suspicion," Cline writes. "Suddenly, they became more receptive, eager to find stability within whichever narrative you offered them." We have encountered this calculated manifestation of womanhood before and know where it might lead. However, in Cline's fluid prose, it becomes tantalizing. It is also, inevitably, a precursor to trouble—for Alex and those in her orbit.
"You could constantly filter whatever you were feeling, accepting the facts and shifting them aside," she contemplates. "There was a static that propelled you from one moment to the next, and then the one after that, until the moments transformed into something else." The more performative the task, the louder the static in her mind, and the more obscured and cloaked Alex becomes. For this archetype of a young woman—a blank, reflective surface—Didion and Rhys's
The Guest by Emma Cline Review
Emma Cline's latest novel, "The Guest," delves into the unspoken rules and expectations that govern the privileged community residing in a luxurious enclave on Long Island. In the opening pages, the reader is introduced to Alex, the protagonist, as she navigates this unfamiliar territory. Accompanied by her significantly older boyfriend, Simon, Alex witnesses a striking example of the neighborhood's unique atmosphere.
During a visit to the beach, Simon carelessly kicks off his shoes near the entrance—a seemingly innocuous action that holds profound implications. In this wealthy enclave, the inhabitants live without fear. Their confidence stems from an implicit understanding that they are surrounded by individuals who share their privileged status. They trust in a system built on a collective belief—a system where leaving cars unlocked, bicycles unsecured, and bags unattended is not met with apprehension.
Cline skillfully captures the immediate sense of strangeness that pervades this new world for Alex. The author paints a vivid picture of a society where security is rooted in a shared identity and mutual trust. It is a world defined by its inhabitants' unwavering faith in their own exclusivity. Through this powerful scene, Cline invites readers to contemplate the complexities and contradictions of privilege.
The juxtaposition of the carefree attitudes displayed by the residents with the underlying tension in Alex's experience highlights the disparities and illusions inherent in such a community. It raises questions about the nature of belonging, the fragility of social constructs, and the consequences of unchallenged assumptions. In this brief encounter, Cline sets the stage for a thought-provoking exploration of the social dynamics that shape the lives of both the privileged and those who find themselves on the periphery.
With her keen observations and evocative prose, she invites readers to question the foundations of this seemingly idyllic world and to examine the deeper implications that lie beneath its glossy surface. Early in the narrative, Cline establishes the sense of unease that permeates "The Guest," leaving readers eager to unravel the intricate web of privilege, power, and human connection that awaits them in the pages that follow.
Who is Emma Cline?
Emma Cline is an American writer and novelist from California. Emma Cline, an accomplished author, gained recognition with the publication of her debut novel, "The Girls," in 2016. The book received positive reviews and achieved notable acclaim, being shortlisted for both the John Leonard Award from the National Book Critics Circle and the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize. This early success marked the beginning of Cline's promising literary career.
In 2023, Cline released her highly anticipated second novel, titled "The Guest." Building on her previous achievements, she continued to captivate readers with her storytelling prowess and insightful narratives. With the publication of this latest work, Cline further established herself as a prominent voice in contemporary literature.In recognition of her literary achievements, Cline was honored as one of Granta's Best of Young American Novelists in 2017.
This prestigious accolade solidified her reputation as an emerging talent in the literary world. Additionally, Forbes acknowledged her impact and named her one of their "30 Under 30 in Media," further highlighting her influence and contributions to the field.Cline's dedication and exceptional writing skills have not gone unnoticed, as she has been awarded the Plimpton Prize, a prestigious literary honor. This recognition serves as a testament to her remarkable talent and the impact of her literary works.
The Guest Emma Cline Ending Explained - FAQs
In the ending of "The Guest," Alex's plan to win back Simon's favor fails as her minor slip-ups and mistakes erode his indifference towards her. She is swiftly escorted to the train station, signaling the end of her endeavor. However, she clings to a flicker of hope, believing she can redeem herself at Simon's annual Labor Day party.
The plot of "The Guest" revolves around Alex, the central character, who gets expelled from her wealthy lover's Long Island beach house after an embarrassing incident at a party. Determined to regain her place in Simon's life, she plans to reenter through his Labor Day party, leading to a series of misadventures and disruptions in the lives of the upper class.
The room described in the opening pages of "The Guest" symbolizes sterility and emptiness within the affluent community. Its lack of personality and purpose contrasts with the carved stone, which stands out as the only item of interest, offering a touch of beauty amidst the lifeless surroundings. This scene highlights the contrasts and unspoken assumptions that govern the privileged enclave.
Alex relies on her ability to deceive her way into various situations, capitalizing on the assumption that, as a young, attractive, well-dressed white woman, she naturally belongs in privileged spaces. She moves from party to party, beach clubs, and vacant homes, extracting small benefits while carefully calculating her boundaries to avoid detection.
No, Alex's journey in the world of privilege reveals that true belonging is an unattainable luxury for her. Despite her efforts to blend in and navigate the exclusive enclave, she remains a transient presence. Her survival depends on deception and maintaining a calculated distance, preventing her from truly fitting into this world or finding a genuine connection.
Emma Cline, an accomplished author, gained recognition with the publication of her debut novel, "The Girls," in 2016.