The Reappearance of Rachel Price

Memory is a recurring motif connected to The Impact of Mistrust and Deception. Charlie intentionally trains Bel to mistrust her own recollection of events so that he can control her, as when he insists that her memory of being left alone for several hours is false and that she was really only left for 15 minutes. His loving and jovial delivery when he denies her memories is designed to make him seem like a warm and loving father, as when he hugs and kisses Bel while laughing away her version of events. This dynamic positions Charle as a seemingly truthful character who cares about his daughter and is amused at her tendency to misremember key details about the past. However, when Uncle Jeff later confirms Bel’s version of events Charlie’s innate dishonesty is unmasked, leading to Bel’s more extensive realizations about the Price family’s past and Charlie’s gaslighting tendencies.

Later, it is revealed that Charlie used similar strategies to attempt to control Rachel, for as she herself admits, “For months, he tried to make me think I’d lost my mind, so I’d need him, so I’d never leave. […] Oh, Rachel, you left the front door open.