Peyton Place

Content Warning: The novel and the guide reference alcoholism, sexual assault, incest, death by suicide, animal cruelty, abortion, and racism.

During the late summer of 1939, a fire rages near Peyton Place. The fire first breaks out on the night of Nellie’s suicide and continues up until the night when Kathy is injured at the carnival. The fire symbolizes violence and destruction; it coincides with the period where there are multiple sudden deaths, including Nellie Cross and Hester Goodale. Fire is typically difficult to control, and this is true of the Peyton Place fire, which stubbornly resists all efforts to contain it. Thus, the fire symbolizes how events can have unexpected consequences and lead to collateral damage; when Nellie dies by suicide, both Allison and Dr. Swain fear that they are partially at fault. Dr. Swain traces these tragic events back to his decision to confront Lucas about abusing Selena without legally prosecuting the man. The fire also symbolizes how gossip and news spread throughout a small community; repeatedly, gossip and hearsay about events (such as Nellie’s death) spread through the town. The fire, while destructive, also potentially purges and creates the possibility of a fresh start; when the fire first begins, Dr.