Liars: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses emotional abuse, mental illness, and gender discrimination.

One of the central themes in Liars is the role of deception within Jane and John’s marriage. Manguso explores the various layers of deceit that underpin their relationship —including self-deception, manipulation, and distortion of the narrative of their marriage—illustrating how dishonesty erodes trust and identity in intimate partnerships.

Jane’s self-deception is a recurring motif throughout the novel, as she repeatedly rationalizes John’s behavior to maintain the illusion of a stable marriage. When John intrudes on one of her tutoring sessions, she ignores it, later thinking, “The reality that I wanted didn’t include this event, so I stepped around it and continued on” (31). This assessment encapsulates her tendency to ignore red flags and convince herself that John is the person she wants him to be. By choosing denial, Jane preserves a sense of control in the short term, though this habit contributes to the long-term deterioration of her confidence and autonomy. As the narrative progresses, Jane begins to recognize her complicity in sustaining this façade, confronting difficult truths about her husband and herself.

John’s deceit operates on multiple levels, from financial irresponsibility to emotional manipulation.