Alias Grace Summary

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Here you will find a Alias Grace summary (Margaret Atwood's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

Alias Grace Summary Overview

In 1859, Grace Marks, a woman serving a life sentence for her part in two murders, has been behaving well in the prison. This good behavior leads to terms of her imprisonment being softened, allowing her to work as a housekeeper in the Governor's household. The Governor's wife, along with a group of reformers including Reverend Verringer, are convinced of Grace's innocence and have tried multiple times to secure her pardon. Their efforts are rekindled when Dr. Simon Jordan, a doctor with an interest in psychology, arrives in Kingston to help Grace recover her lost memories of the murders. Dr. Jordan believes that by restoring Grace's memories, he can not only ascertain her guilt or innocence but also gain valuable insights into the human mind. The two meet regularly in the sewing room of the Governor's house, where Grace is initially wary of Dr. Jordan and his unusual strategies for memory recovery. She eventually warms up to him and begins recounting her life story, leading up to the murders. The narrative thus alternates between the present and Grace's past, beginning with her childhood in Ireland, moving to Canada with her family, her mother's death, and her father's descent into alcoholism. Grace's life takes a tragic turn when her friend and fellow servant, Mary Whitney, dies from a botched abortion. Seeking work, Grace ends up in a wealthier household, working alongside Nancy Montgomery and James McDermott. The tension between the servants escalates, culminating in McDermott murdering Nancy and their employer, Mr. Kinnear, while Grace's memory blanks out the details. As Dr. Jordan delves deeper into Grace's recollections, he becomes increasingly uncertain about her truthfulness and his own sanity. Eventually, he brings in Dr. DuPont to hypnotize Grace, leading to a bizarre confession from a voice claiming to be Mary Whitney. The voice absolves Grace of the murders, leaving Dr. Jordan more confused than ever. Grace eventually secures a pardon after thirteen more years in prison, travels to the US, marries an old acquaintance, and lives on, sewing pieces of her past into a quilt.

part 1

The narrative begins from the perspective of Grace Marks, who will soon become twenty-four. She has spent the better part of eight years in jail. In 1851, while walking with fellow inmates, she observes crimson peonies sprouting from the gravel which reminds her of the white ones in Mr. Kinnear's garden and Nancy arranging them in a shallow basket. Grace knows that peonies don't bloom in April and realizes these flowers are made of cloth. She glances up to see Nancy, blood smeared across her face, pleading with extended hands. Nancy's golden earrings, once the object of Grace's envy, no longer interest her. Unlike the previous occasion, Grace decides to run for help. She envisions Mr. Kinnear returning home safe, while James McDermott leads his horse to the stable. As she moves towards Nancy, Nancy's image disintegrates into crimson cloth petals. Suddenly, a man with a candle obstructs Grace's path to the stairs. She feels cornered and certain she will never escape. In the final part of this section, Grace reveals that she narrated this account to Dr. Jordan when she reached "that part of the story."

part 2

Part 2 features a long ballad that tells the story of the murders of Mr. Kinnear and his housemaid, Nancy Montgomery. It also covers the trials of his maid, Grace Marks, and his stable boy, James McDermott. The ballad says that Mr. Kinnear adored Nancy and showered her with costly presents. Meanwhile, Grace was in love with Mr. Kinnear, and McDermott was attracted to Grace. Grace agreed to be McDermott’s lover if he would aid her in murdering Nancy. McDermott hit Nancy with an axe, dragged her into the basement and, with Grace, they choked her to death with a scarf. McDermott wished to kill Mr. Kinnear too. Grace objected as she only wanted Nancy gone to have Mr. Kinnear to herself. However, McDermott, reminding Grace of her initial promise, gunned Mr. Kinnear down.

part 3

Now in 1859, sixteen years post the Kinnear-Montgomery murders, Grace finds herself still incarcerated. However, due to her exemplary behavior, she spends her days working as a maid at the Governor of the Provincial Penitentiary's mansion. While tidying up, Grace often reflects on the media coverage during her trial and questions whether her attorney, Mr. Kenneth MacKenzie, ever truly trusted her narrative. Awaiting a doctor's arrival, Grace finds herself in the Governor's wife’s parlor, a room she's never been in before. She humorously recalls an admonition from a woman named Mrs. Alderman Parkinson to never sit where a man has just been, with Mary Whitney providing the reason: "Because, you silly goose, it’s still warm from his bum." Grace observes the Governor's wife often throwing parties, with the attendees mostly being young ladies in complex gowns so rigid that Grace compares them to jellyfish, proclaiming them to be “mostly water”. These women and others visit the house twice a week for meetings. Tuesdays are for political discussions and Thursdays are for a Spiritualist Circle with a touch of the supernatural. Grace senses they also attend to get a glimpse of her, the infamous 'murderess'. She conjectures that they must question the Governor's wife about her comfort level in Grace's presence and even compare her imprisonment to their own constrained lives. As she waits nervously for the doctor, she's reassured by the Governor's wife that he only intends to measure her head. But Grace's calm is shattered when she believes she recognizes him from a disturbing past event. This triggers a bout of hysteria, leading to her being hauled back to her prison cell. Back in the confines of her cell, Grace reminisces about her stint at the Lunatic Asylum. She recollects the truly insane women, the feigned ones, and the harsh treatment she received there, particularly from Dr. Bannerling who sexually assaulted her under the pretext of an examination. After a few days in solitary confinement, a knock interrupts her solitude. A young man introduces himself as Dr. Simon Jordan. Despite her curiosity about his specialization, instead of answering, he responds with a quote from the Book of Job. Grace pretends ignorance of the reference. When he hands her an apple and probes her for her thoughts on it, Grace chooses not to provide the answer she believes he expects.

part 4

The fourth part of "Alias Grace" starts with several letters associated with Dr. Jordan. His mother, Mrs. Jordan, is worried about his career path and wants him to settle down and marry. In a letter to a peer, Dr. Jordan details his perception of the mind as an uncharted area. Additionally, Dr. Samuel Bannerling, a previous chief doctor at the Lunatic Asylum, cautions Dr. Jordan that Grace can't always be trusted. The story then transitions to a segment where Dr. Jordan's life is highlighted. The unexpected demise of his father and the resulting financial crisis from the failure of his prosperous textile mill has made his ambition to establish his own asylum seem unlikely. Currently, Dr. Jordan resides with Major C. D. Humphrey. Reflecting in his room, he remembers his initial impression of Grace resembling the mentally unstable patients he'd seen in European asylums. However, when Grace stepped forward, her confident stature contradicted any signs of mental instability. This observation makes Dr. Jordan question his previous assumptions and urges him to remain impartial. One day, while in his room, a servant named Dora brings him breakfast. Dr. Jordan involuntarily visualizes her as a sugared ham on a butcher's hook. This imagery triggers a chain of associations in his mind, “Dora—Pig—Ham.” His reflection leads him to theorize that lunatics are those who skip the middle term in such associations. The story then shifts back to Grace's perspective. After being escorted by two prison guards who made inappropriate remarks, Grace finds herself in the sewing room at the Governor's house, where her meetings with Dr. Jordan are scheduled. Initially, her solitary life in prison has made her feel almost mute. However, as time passes and Dr. Jordan continues to ask questions, she becomes more vocal, feeling that every answer she gives is correct as long as she keeps talking. On a separate occasion, Dr. Jordan meets with Reverend Enoch Verringer, who wants to petition for Grace's release if her innocence is proven through Dr. Jordan's work. The reverend also shares his belief that Warden Smith abused Grace and that this trauma drove her into a brief period of insanity which led to her confinement in the Lunatic Asylum.

part 5

During their ninth day together, Grace notices Dr. Jordan's comforting scent of shaving soap and leather. As they talk, Grace is sewing blocks for a Log Cabin quilt, a pattern she believes every young woman should own before marriage. When Dr. Jordan inquires about her preferred quilt design, she thinks of the Tree of Paradise, but doesn't commit to an answer. Dr. Jordan requests to know Grace's dream from the previous night. While she doesn't share it with him, she narrates to the reader a dream about a stranger trying to sell her a severed hand at Mr. Kinnear’s kitchen door, with her concern being the blood staining the clean floor. Dr. Jordan presents Grace with her confession from the murder trial, questioning her use of Mary Whitney's name during her escape to the United States with James McDermott. Grace shares that Mary was a dear friend who had passed away. Grace starts explaining her life story to Dr. Jordan, beginning with her early life in Ireland. She details how her mother was impregnated by an Englishman, leading to a forced marriage to save face. Trapped in an unhappy marriage, her parents had twelve children, Grace being the second, with only nine surviving. Her father had a difficult time securing stable employment, often wasting his earnings on alcohol. Grace's Aunt Pauline helped support the family until she had her own child. Then, Uncle Roy organized for Grace's family to emigrate to Canada. The transatlantic journey was a nightmare for Grace's family. Cramped in the stifling lower decks with limited access to the fresh air above, they endured the unpleasant smells of close living conditions. Tragically, Grace's mother fell severely ill during the voyage and died, her body committed to the ocean.

part 6

In his slumber, Dr. Jordan envisions strolling through a hallway leading to a sea-facing door. Seawater gushes in, carrying his father's old belongings. He wakes up, linking aspects of the dream to Grace's narrative from the former day and ponders current dream interpretation theories. His housekeeper, Mrs. Humphrey, enters his room with breakfast, and he accidentally scares her into fainting. He revives her in his bed and subsequently experiences a harsh erotic fantasy about her. Puzzling over the genesis of such “imagination manifestations”, he speculates that the line separating “a civilized man” and “a barbarous fiend” is extremely fine. Dr. Jordan inquires if Mrs. Humphrey has any acquaintances who could assist her, but she admits she has none. She also discloses that she couldn't afford to pay Dora, which led to her departure. Dr. Jordan offers to pay two months' rent upfront to alleviate her financial stress. During their session, Grace notices Dr. Jordan's preoccupied demeanor. She talks about sewing a new quilt with a Pandora’s Box design for Miss Lydia. She astonishes Dr. Jordan with her understanding of the Pandora myth, in which all worldly chaos was trapped in a box, with hope resting at its base. Grace proceeds with her account, portraying the opulent residence of Mr. and Mrs. Alderman Parkinson where she quickly became friends with a fellow maid, Mary Whitney. Grace remembers her as attractive and well-dressed. Mary was humble and respectful in front of the upper class, but privately, she used crude language and criticized the affluent. Mary tutored Grace, assisted her in settling in, and helped her create a new dress using buttons bought from a charming peddler, Jeremiah Pontelli. Mary also guided Grace during her initial menstrual cycle. Grace's father, hoping to claim her salary, occasionally visited her at the Parkinson's, but Mary thwarted him, and subsequently, he never contacted Grace.

part 7

Dr. Jordan, puzzled by Grace's fainting and potential memory gaps, ponders the complexities of the mind as he leaves the Governor's house. He later discusses Grace's case with Reverend Verringer, who is intrigued by her memory loss. They also mention Susanna Moodie's dramatic account of Grace's previous hysteria. Grace then resumes her narrative to Dr. Jordan, talking about Mary's humble funeral and her subsequent search for work. She recounts her time working for Mrs. Watson, where she met Nancy Montgomery, a friend of Mrs. Watson's cook. Nancy, who reminded Grace of Mary, offered her a well-paid position as a fellow servant for her employer, Mr. Kinnear, in Richmond Hill. Arriving in Richmond Hill, Grace is met by Mr. Kinnear and is introduced to the household, including Jamie Walsh, a neighboring boy, and James McDermott, a grumpy stable hand. She recollects the vivid details of the house and the strange realization that six months later, only she and Jamie would be alive. Grace provides extensive details about Mr. Kinnear's house, highlighting its peculiar setup, Nancy’s posh attire and jewelry, and McDermott's continuous grumpiness. The day after her arrival, Grace starts her chores early, hears McDermott engaging in step-dancing, and has a brief conversation with him, noting that he appears more attractive when he smiles.

part 8

Grace imagines a lovely sunrise, although she can't see from her prison cell. Hearing an old song reminds her of freedom. An inmate harasses her, exhibiting the prevalent petty jealousies in prison. Keepers escorting her to the Governor's house make crude remarks, which Grace resists. During her meeting with Dr. Jordan, he seems despondent, but her tale of a dream about red flowers interests him. Grace doubts his ability to understand her, “like most gentlemen he often wants a thing to mean more than it does.” Post-meeting, Lydia chats with Grace about Dr. Jerome DuPont and his fascination with “Neuro-hypnotism”. She expresses her attraction to Dr. Jordan, worrying Grace about potential conflicts. After two weeks at Mr. Kinnear's, Jeremiah, a peddler, warns Grace about Kinnear's inappropriate relations with his female servants, and urges her to elope. She refuses after he denies marriage. McDermott interrupts, and Jeremiah placates him by selling him shirts, which Grace mentions later cause confusion during the trials. A doctor examines Mr. Kinnear, who requests coffee from Nancy. When Grace informs him of Nancy's illness, he asks Grace instead, upsetting Nancy. Later, Nancy’s hostility towards Grace makes her suspect Nancy is pregnant. One evening, Nancy and Mr. Kinnear have a playful dispute about a poem, within Grace's hearing. Nancy talks about McDermott's rudeness and Grace's strange behavior, but Mr. Kinnear compliments Grace instead, much to Nancy's irritation. During a thunderstorm, Grace dreams of an unknown man embracing her. Initially mistaking him for Jeremiah, McDermott or Mr. Kinnear, she realizes it's Death, and despite her fear, she feels a strange attraction.

part 9

As Kingston welcomes summer, Dr. Jordan is taken aback by the sudden heat. Mrs. Humphrey, his landlord, is upset about Dora spreading rumors about her financial troubles and her husband's unexplained departure. Dr. Jordan helps out with chores around the house and contemplates seeking Grace's help with household duties, but decides to maintain his professional facade. His mind wanders to disturbing fantasies involving Mrs. Humphrey, which leave him feeling distracted. He struggles to keep track of Grace's story. He receives another letter from his mother encouraging him to come home and get married, and he wonders if his mission has failed. Grace spends sleepless nights contemplating her story, especially as she nears the part about the murders. Her memories are foggy, and she feels lost in the narrative. She decides to continue with her story, despite feeling like it's leading her towards an inevitable conclusion. Dr. Jordan gives a psychology lecture at the Governor's house, where Dr. DuPont shows particular interest in his work with Grace. Meanwhile, Grace narrates to Dr. Jordan about Mr. Kinnear going to Toronto and Nancy's decision to dismiss her and McDermott. McDermott later shares his murderous plan with Grace, who dismisses it as a joke and convinces him to wait until Mr. Kinnear returns. During a shared meal, Nancy convinces Grace to share her bed for fear of robbers. Grace then dreams about Mary Whitney freeing a trapped firefly and a scene of bloody peonies with Nancy bleeding profusely. The following day, Grace proceeds normally but feels a change in the air. She subtly questions McDermott about his plan to murder Nancy and pleads with him not to do it in the bedroom. While in the garden, she hears a thud from the house. Her next memory is of Mr. Kinnear's return. As he naps, McDermott retrieves a shotgun and later shoots Mr. Kinnear. Grace flees to the garden, where McDermott attempts to shoot her, and she loses consciousness. Despite Dr. Jordan's questioning, Grace insists she cannot recall the events during her blackouts. Dr. Jordan feels sympathy for Grace and yearns to comfort her.

part 10

Grace narrates McDermott's version of events following his attack on her, leading to her unconsciousness in the garden. According to McDermott, he revived her and they indulged in a celebratory meal of ham, eggs and whiskey. However, Grace has no recollection of this, instead, she woke up in her bed later that day. She woke again, this time on the floor, with McDermott demanding she fulfills an alleged promise of offering herself to him sexually following Nancy's murder. Grace denies remembering any such agreement and is fearful of McDermott's unstable mental state. Despite his multiple attempts to force himself upon her, the sight of a bloodied magazine in Nancy's bed sobers McDermott, and he ceases his attempts. Worried about McDermott's unpredictable behavior, Grace convinces him they should pack up and leave before anyone discovers the crime. After gathering valuables and cleaning up, Grace dons one of Nancy's dresses and disposes of her own. Traveling through the night in Mr. Kinnear's horse and carriage, Grace is lost in contemplation under the starless sky, questioning the existence of God and seeking forgiveness for her sins. She is rudely awakened by McDermott's weight on her as he accuses her of inviting him into a sexual encounter. She vehemently denies this, and when he persists, she bites his ear, causing him to retreat. They reach Toronto at dawn and stash away Mr. Kinnear’s wagon. As they buy ferry tickets for their escape to America, Grace suggests McDermott alter his appearance to avoid detection. She lets him go to do so, choosing not to abandon him despite the opportunity. Fearful yet empathetic, she cannot bring herself to betray McDermott, acknowledging his humanity.

part 11

Dr. Jordan receives a letter from his mother hinting at her desire for him to return home and settle down. He experiences a dream where he's in a maid's quarters of a house that transforms into a hospital from his past. Charged with dissecting a female corpse, he peels back layers of sheets but never discovers a body, feeling an overwhelming sense of failure. He dreams he awakens to Grace standing above him, they start to make love, but he snaps to reality realizing it's not Grace but Mrs. Humphrey he's intimate with. The story switches to Grace's perspective, revealing Dr. Jordan has left for Toronto and she is unsure of his return date. She admits his absence would leave her feeling desolate. She thinks about how she could share with Dr. Jordan about her arrest, and then McDermott's, their transport across Lake Ontario, and McDermott's denial of his role in the murders. She comforted herself with the belief that she wouldn't be executed for a crime she didn't commit. Upon their arrival in Toronto, Grace and McDermott were incarcerated. She shares that during her interrogation, her composed demeanor was mistaken for insensitivity. She believes had she shown emotion, it would have been construed as an admission of guilt.

part 12

Dr. Jordan's meeting with Mr. MacKenzie revolves around their interpretations of Grace's sanity and truthfulness. Mr. MacKenzie relates his experience as Grace's attorney, admitting his struggle to conclude on her mental health status. He suggests criminals usually feign forgetfulness, but Dr. Jordan asserts Grace's amnesia appears real. The conversation turns to specifics of the case, including Susanna Moodie's accusation that Mr. MacKenzie declared Grace haunted by Nancy's bloodshot eyes. Mr. MacKenzie's initial denial, followed by an ambiguous comment, raises Dr. Jordan's suspicion. The men's discussion of Grace continues, with Dr. Jordan voicing his suspicion that despite her story sounding plausible, Grace must be fabricating it. Mr. MacKenzie counters by likening Grace to Scheherazade, stating one should not categorize her stories as strictly "true" or "false." Mr. MacKenzie theorizes that Grace could be infatuated with Dr. Jordan, mirroring her past emotions towards him as her attorney. Dr. Jordan is offended but conceals his fury and inquires about Mr. MacKenzie's stance on Grace's innocence, to which he responds that he considered her "guilty as sin." Grace, back in her Kingston cell, contemplates Dr. Jordan's whereabouts and expresses disappointment at his inability to comprehend that guilt is imposed on victims through external actions, not their personal choices. While knitting, Grace muses about what she'd place in her keepsake album, if she had one. She thinks of preserving pleasant memories, like a piece of her mother’s shawl's fringe. However, she also contemplates if a keepsake album should encapsulate the entirety of one's life, both joyous and sorrowful, thus being a genuine representation of one's life.

part 13

People are gathered in Mrs. Quennell's library, awaiting Dr. DuPont, also known as Jeremiah Pontelli, to hypnotize Grace. Dr. Jordan is doubtful, suspecting a trick, yet part of him is hopeful. He reminds himself to remain neutral. Dr. DuPont and Grace come in, and seeing Grace's nervousness satisfies Dr. Jordan. Dr. DuPont dims the lights and guides Grace into a trance-like state. He commands Grace to lift her arm, stating it's unbendable like iron, and demonstrates this, which Dr. Jordan thinks is overdone. As Dr. DuPont begins questioning Grace, a loud noise startles Lydia, who grabs Dr. Jordan's hand. Dr. Jordan's suspicion grows, feeling lured into a hoax. He also experiences discomfort and fantasizes about Mrs. Humphrey. He asks Dr. DuPont to inquire if Grace had been intimate with McDermott. When asked, Grace, in an unfamiliar voice, labels Dr. Jordan a hypocrite. She admits to meeting McDermott on moonlit evenings, allowing him to kiss and touch her, the same way she believes Dr. Jordan desires. She then asserts having manipulated McDermott and Mr. Kinnear. Barely managing to stay composed, Dr. Jordan queries about the cellar incident. Grace admits to being present and participating in Nancy's murder, justifying it as a punishment for Nancy's sins. She further rejoices that “this time the gentleman died as well, for once.” The Governor's wife utters Grace's name in terror, and Grace, in the same strange voice, asserts she's not Grace and Grace is ignorant of her actions. Dr. Jordan assumes the voice to be Mary Whitney's, which is confirmed by the voice, explaining that Grace neglected to open the window. Needing to keep warm, she borrowed Grace's “fleshly garment.” When Dr. Jordan questions the voice's authenticity, it responds angrily, then fades. Grace, back to herself, confesses she doesn't recall what transpired. After all the women have exited, Dr. Dupont reveals that he's never experienced such an event. Reverend Verringer suggests possession as an explanation. Dr. Jordan, however, believes it could be a neurological issue such as dédoublement, where a patient exhibits distinct personalities unaware of each other. Dr. DuPont concurs, but Reverend Verringer disagrees.

part 14

Part 14 unfolds through multiple letters. Dr. Jordan pens the first one to Mrs. Humphrey, falsely claiming a serious illness of his mother as his abrupt exit's reason. His mother, in the second letter, returns Mrs. Humphrey's letters addressed to her son, advising her to safeguard her reputation. In the third letter, Grace conveys her distress to Dr. Jordan over his sudden and unexplained exit. Dr. Jordan, in the fourth letter, confesses to a colleague his confusion about being manipulated by Grace, and his nighttime visions of her face. In the fifth letter, Grace, two years later in 1861, writes to Jeremiah, now a magician named Signor Geraldo Ponti, stating that she's treated more kindly post-hypnotism. She mentions that Dr. Jordan didn't file a report aiding her case and has joined the newly started Civil War. In the next year, 1862, Dr. Jordan's mother requests Mrs. Humphrey to cease writing to her son in the sixth letter. She informs that her son is recuperating from a war injury and another woman is looking after him. In the seventh letter from 1867, Reverend Verringer contacts Dr. Samuel Bannerling, the former head of the Lunatic Asylum where Grace was, to acquire his endorsement for a petition to free Grace from jail. In the eighth and concluding letter, also from 1867, Dr. Bannerling responds to Reverend Verringer, denying his endorsement. He dismisses Grace's hypnotism evidence and criticizes Dr. Jordan as either too naive or a rogue. He ends by chiding Reverend Verringer for veering from theology into contemporary science.

part 15

In 1873, Grace narrates the story of her pardon and subsequent freeing. She grapples with her transition from notorious prisoner to innocent woman, fearing she might have to turn to prostitution to survive. Janet, the warden's daughter, assures her a safe residence awaits. Janet and her father guide Grace out of the prison in 1872 and across Lake Ontario by ferry. They reach the United States, where Grace learns she will reside in Ithaca, New York, with a man scheduled to meet her at the train station. This man turns out to be Mr. Kinnear’s neighbor, Jamie Walsh, who once testified against her at the trial. Now a widower, Jamie seeks Grace's forgiveness and proposes marriage, to which Grace consents. Grace paints a picture of her new life, describing it as akin to heaven. She's puzzled, however, by Jamie's fascination with her tormented past. He frequently wants to hear about the murders, a narrative that both excites him and leads to his seeking forgiveness. Grace occasionally grants him forgiveness, but deep down she feels it's he who should forgive her. Grace, now 46 and possibly expecting a child, spends her afternoons crafting a Tree of Paradise quilt. The quilt will feature pieces of fabric from various stages of her life - Mary Whitney's petticoat, her prison nightgown, and the dress Nancy had on when Grace first arrived at Mr. Kinnear's.