The Safekeep

Isabel is one of The Safekeep’s two protagonists and experiences the most significant character development over the course of the novel. At its outset, she is reclusive and anxious, spending almost all her time alone in the big house and carefully watching over what she thinks are her late mother’s things. She is intolerant and filled with anti-gay bias toward her brother Hendrik and his boyfriend, Sebastian. She is also immediately judgmental of Eva’s appearance, which she perceives as performative. Isabel’s suspicions toward others reflect and fuel her loneliness, while her anxieties also speak to her vulnerabilities: Her position as a single woman leaves her reliant on the men in her family for stability, and she is perpetually fearful that Louis might one day turn her out of the house.

Eva’s arrival in Isabel’s life catalyzes major changes to her character—most notably, a sexual awakening. During one romantic encounter, Eva asks her, “Have you always been like this? Have you just been waiting to happen?” (149). These questions, which go unanswered by Isabel, divide her life into two distinct periods: before Eva and after Eva. Connecting with Eva both emotionally and sexually brings new experiences to Isabel’s life, helping her to better understand her own sexuality and giving her the confidence to open up to another person.