Power of Words

A Fatal Grace demonstrates that words can be used just like weapons to wound and kill. They can additionally be used as a way to build a false world in which one can hide. Clara felt murdered by the words CC said about her artwork. Similarly, Em told Gamache she believed that she had seen CC murder her daughter with her words when she berated her after singing in church. For all of CC’s hatefulness, she lived in a world built on the power of names and words. Her world came crashing down when she realized even her words and her imagined existence could not protect her.

Clara is the first example of a character wounded by words. Clara had given her portfolio to CC to share with a man who owned an art gallery. CC pretends to be talking to this man...