Deceit

The theme of deceit is important in the story because it underlies everything about the plot and the characters. Connie and Rose fabricated a story designed to protect Rose's reputation when she became pregnant as a result of a rape. They crafted a story about an imaginary couple named Jack and Alice Munro who disappeared from their home and abandoned their baby daughter. This may have seemed like the only solution at the time but perpetuating the deceit and profiting from it defrauded the family and the public.

Enigma was deceived into thinking that her real parents had abandoned her and that Connie and Rose rescued her out of the goodness of their hearts. This must have been very wounding for Enigma when she finally learned the truth at the age of 40. Not only was she not abandoned, she actually was living with her biological mother...