Jodi Piccoult is known for her unique ability to fuse controversial societal issues with the law and The Pact is no exception. This time, the theme up for court debate is teen suicide.
When True Love Goes Wrong
The Pact tells the tale of the Hartes and the Golds, two families that have been inseparable for seventeen years, until Emily Gold is discovered dead and the main suspect is Chris Harte. Chris was the only one at the crime scene when Emily died and insists it was a suicide pact gone wrong. After all, there was no denying the fact that Chris and Emily were passionately in love. However, police investigators soon spin the story around and the Hartes suddenly find their eighteen-year-old son behind bars awaiting a trial for murder.
Through the investigation by defense Attorney Jordan and private investigator Selena, as well as several side stories about the past, the reader soon uncovers the truth about the so called ‘suicide pact’ and the implications it has had for everyone involved. Furthermore, the four parents of the two teenaged lovers struggle to maintain their strength, their sanity and their own relationships while awaiting the truth and the trial.
The Problems with The Pact
Although The Pact flows quite nicely and weaves in and out of the past and present to slowly reveal the truth about Emily’s suicide/murder, there are a few problems with the book as a whole. Emily’s motivation to want to kill herself is a little weak as is the character development of some of the smaller characters. In comparison to some of Piccoult’s other books, The Pact lacks the brilliant use of metaphor, the extensive research and the character development of some of her more recent books.
The Main Themes of The Pact
Of course, the most important theme up for debate is the question of undying love. There is no doubt in the reader’s mind that Emily and Chris loved each other, especially after spending every single day of their entire lives together. However, through this relationship, and through the floundering relationships of their parents, Piccoult demonstrates that love, like so many other topics of discussion in her books, does not follow a straight black and white line. Even the theme of love falls into those hazy shades of grey.
Another important theme in The Pact is the question of euthanasia, or helping someone you love who is in a great deal of pain. It is Chris’ love for Emily that pushes him into the position he faces and into both the jail cell and the courtroom.
Regardless of the small loopholes in the plot and character development, The Pact is an easy and enlightening read that puts readers into the heads of six characters struggling to find the balance between love and duty.
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