Affinity Summary & Key Insights

Sarah Waters' Affinity unfolds in 1872 at the Holloway Prison for women in London. The narrative centers on Margaret Prior, a young, recently widowed woman who volunteers as a teacher at the prison, drawn to the institution by a morbid fascination and a desire for purpose after her husband's death. Margaret becomes deeply intrigued by Selina Dawes, a captivating and enigmatic inmate serving a life sentence for poisoning her husband.

Selina, despite her crime, possesses a strange charm and intellect. She is captivatingly mysterious, and her guarded nature only fuels Margaret's fascination. Their relationship blossoms into a complex and clandestine intimacy, built on shared secrets and a mutual attraction that transcends the stark prison walls. Selina, initially reluctant, eventually allows Margaret access to her innermost thoughts and feelings, revealing fragments of her past and the circumstances that led to her imprisonment. Through coded letters and clandestine meetings, they build a powerful connection based on intellectual stimulation and emotional dependence, challenging the rigid social norms of Victorian society.

The novel explores the complex and ambiguous nature of their relationship, raising questions about love, desire, and power dynamics within a restrictive societal context. Their bond is intertwined with the unfolding mystery surrounding Selina's crime. As Margaret delves deeper into Selina's past, she uncovers unsettling truths that blur the lines between victim and perpetrator, and challenge her initial perceptions of Selina's guilt. Margaret begins to question not only Selina’s innocence but also the validity of the justice system itself, seeing parallels between Selina’s confinement and her own constrained life as a Victorian widow.

A key element of the plot involves the discovery of a series of seemingly innocuous spiritualist séances conducted within the prison walls. These séances, originally intended to provide solace for the inmates, become a critical part of the unfolding mystery, revealing hidden connections between Selina's past and present, as well as drawing Margaret further into the enigmatic world of Victorian spiritualism. The séances add a layer of supernatural suspense to the story, mirroring the secretive and ambiguous nature of the women's relationship.

Ultimately, Affinity explores themes of obsession, repression, and the limitations placed upon women in Victorian England. It questions societal expectations of morality and justice, highlighting the complex interplay between guilt, innocence, and the power of female relationships within a patriarchal system. The novel leaves the reader questioning the true nature of Selina's crime and the extent of Margaret's complicity in her own emotional entanglement, concluding with an ambiguous yet powerful testament to the enduring strength and complexity of female bonds.