Unreliable narrators are very interesting characters in media – the author pulls the wool over other characters eyes and the audiences’, by having their character lie, lie by omission, or purposefully make the character unable to remember the events of the narrative. This can set up for a critical moment later in the narrative when the audience, or the character finds out that the character is unreliable. In the case of Alias Grace, it leaves the whole narrative unreliable because Grace’s testimony cannot be trusted.
In the novel, Alias Grace, Grace Marks can be described as an unreliable narrator. She claims that she cannot recall the events of the murders, yet she can recall the details surrounding the events with almost pinpoint accuracy. This could be explained away by her fainting spells and the periods of time when she claims she can not remember, however the audience, and Dr. Jordan, have no evidence to support her claims. Even the hypnosis session at the end of the book, although used to acquit her, could have been faked. It was only seen through Dr. Jordan’s point of view, after all.
All throughout the novel, Dr. Jordan inquires after the professional opinions of those who attended to Grace. Dr. Bannerling described her as, “…an accomplished actress and a most practiced liar…She is devoid of morals as she is of scruples, and will use any unwitting that comes to hand.” (Alias Grace, pg. 71). Demonstrably, when Dr. Jordan leaves to go back home, she writes to him to ask about the acquittal letter that she was promised – which could be showing the cards in her hands of the real reason she was willing to speak to him. Grace states to the reader various times that she is appeasing Dr. Jordan by telling him her tell, and states to Dr. Jordan that she does not expect to ever get out. However, her letter would directly contradict that.
Grace talks extensively about her childhood friend, Mary Whitney. Dr. Jordan is unable to procure evidence of Mary’s existence besides the gravestone that she is buried with – however the gravestone only has Mary’s name on it and does not provide any dates so Dr. Jordan cannot prove that it is the Mary Whitney that Grace knew. Grace told him, when talking about Mary’s funeral, that she could only afford to engrave Mary’s name so if she was telling the truth this tracks. But there is a slim chance that Grace was lying.
The tale of Alias Grace is one that falls squarely into the trope of an unreliable narrative. We will never know if Grace is telling the truth. I don’t believe that the story is trying to prove whether or not Grace is innocent or guilty. The tale is only presenting Grace’s story and asking you for your opinion on a condemned woman. The truth of the matter will be hidden forever because Grace, whether she is purposefully hiding it or not, isn’t telling it to us.