Megan Hipwell Analysis

Rachel Watson boards the 8:04 train on a morning just like any other. Little does she know that what she is about to witness will question everything she thought she knew. The girl on the train finds herself fantasizing about the lives of an ordinary, suburban couple (Jess and Jason) that she sees everyday while riding the train. She soon finds herself entangled in the disappearance of Megan “Jess” Hipwell. By offering what little information she knows, Rachel is determined to aid in clearing Scott “Jason” Hipwell’s name. In the end, Rachel discovers that she may be causing more harm than good by putting herself as well as others in jeopardy. In this journal, I will be evaluating, questioning, and predicting.

I will be evaluating the characterization of Megan Hipwell. When I think of Megan, I think of

She seems as lonely as a single cloud, alone in a vast sky of blue. ☺ The fact that she lost her job could contribute to her loneliness because she now spends her days doing almost nothing until Scott comes home. The first time Megan’s point of view is seen she says, “My days feel empty now that I don’t have the gallery to go to any longer. I really miss it. I miss talking to the artists. I even miss dealing with all those tedious yummy mummies who used to drop by…” (Hawkins 18). She also doesn’t have very many friends, and she doesn’t seem to have any close friends at all. This means that she lacks someone to talk to when Scott is away at work. It’s difficult for her to let people in, even Scott most times. This contributes to her loneliness most definitely. Another aspect of Megan’s character is that she is very unstable. Sometimes she loves Scott and sometimes she hates him. She has these odd mood swings. A reason I believe Megan is unstable is largely due to the death of her brother, Ben. On page 22 she says, “I miss him every day. More than anyone, I think. He’s the big hole in my life,