The Beauty of the House

Abstract

Personality is a complex, nuanced aspect of the human experience. In this paper, Nyary explores the theme of personality as it relates to Susanna Clarke’s novel Piranesi. In this novel, the main character Piranesi, a London native, is trapped in the House, a labyrinth with hundreds of rooms, where he has no memory of his past life. Piranesi transforms into a different person after a prolonged stay in the House. As a consequence of human nature, individuals tend to create personas that they present to others to appear more likable while withholding their true personalities. Nyary asserts that the House represents one’s true personality while London represents the version one shows to the world. Broadening the scope of this metaphor, Nyary emphasizes the importance of understanding and nurturing one’s true personality and the implications this has for society.