The Housemaid Literary Elements

Psychological thriller

The novel's setting is in modern-day America, in the luxurious mansion of the Winchester family.

First person narrative

Tone: Dark, Suspenseful, and Unsettling.
Mood: Ominous, Claustrophobic, and Tense.

Protagonist: Millie Calloway; Antagonist: Andrew Winchester

Millie works as a housemaid for the wealthy Winchester family. She finds it suspicious that Andrew's wife, Nina, never leaves her room. Millie’s attempts to uncover the truth put her in direct conflict with Andrew, leading to a dangerous and suspenseful struggle for survival.

Initially, Millie believes that Nina is an abusive wife and mentally ill. After being tortured by Andrew, she realizes that Nina was pretending to be crazy so she could protect her daughter and herself.

Andrew's strange and strict rules for Nina, along with his controlling behavior, foreshadow something unusual and mysterious about the family.

In the beginning, Millie ignores the house’s unusual atmosphere and understates Andrew’s excessive kindness.

Millie's character alludes to classic characters like Jane Eyre, as she begins powerless but gradually takes control of her situation, ultimately saving herself.

Millie's observations of the eerie silence in the house, the locked bedroom door of Nina, and her frightened demeanor all enhance the novel’s sense of mystery and danger.

Andrew initially appears kind to Millie, while Nina seems to cause trouble for them. In reality, Nina was a victim trying to escape from him.

The parallelism lies in Millie’s attempt to reform by working hard for a better life, only to find herself repeating her past by committing another crime.

The locked guestroom in the Winchester house symbolizes the domestic abuse Nina endures.

In the novel, the house is described as a living thing, as Millie feels the walls whisper.