History Literature / Affinity

%%* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: Selina and Ruth]] run one.
%%* BitchInSheepsClothing: Again, both [[spoiler: Selina and Ruth Vigers.]]
* ButchLesbian: [[spoiler: Ruth Vigers, who successfully passes herself off as Selina's male spirit guide in order to seduce and/or sexually abuse young girls at seances. This also qualifies her as a variant on the PsychoLesbian trope - Waters (obviously) isn't arguing that lesbianism is evil, but this particular lesbian definitely comes across that way.]]
%%* CanonForeigner: Margaret's fiancé, in the adaptation.

* DrivenToSuicide: A year before the novel begins, Margaret attempts a fatal overdose of sleeping medicine after learning that her female lover is planning on marrying her (Margaret's) brother. [[spoiler: Margaret's narrative ends with her about to attempt suicide again after she learns that Selina has betrayed and deceived her. This second attempt is implied to be successful.]]

%%* TheFarmerAndTheViper: Mrs Jelf's kindness is wasted on [[spoiler: Selina.]]
* {{Gayngst}}: The primary source of Margaret's depression, following her ex-lover's marriage to Margaret's own brother.
%%* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Selina. [[spoiler: Or so it seems. Eventually subverted.]]
* HeroicBSOD: Margaret has this reaction when [[spoiler: she learns that Selina's been [[UsingYouAllAlong Using Her All Along]].]]

* OldMaid: Margaret, who is twenty-nine, is considered this.

* QueerRomance: Between Margaret and Selina and Margaret and Helen. [[spoiler: Also Selina and Ruth, and (depending on your interpretation) Selina and Mrs Jelf]].

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Margaret.

* {{Angst}}
* [[spoiler: BatmanGambit: Selina and Ruth run one.]]
* [[spoiler: BitchInSheepsClothing: Again, both Selina and Ruth Vigers.]]

* CanonForeigner: Margaret's fiancé, in the adaptation.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Most of the characters in the story.
* TheDitz: Pris, Margaret's sister.

* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: Margaret is one.
* [[spoiler: TheFarmerAndTheViper: Mrs Jelf's kindness is wasted on Selina.]]

* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Selina. [[spoiler: Or so it seems. Eventually subverted.]]

* MyBelovedSmother: Mrs Prior towards Margaret; not so much towards her other children.

* [[spoiler: TheReveal: "Selina's maid, Ruth Vigers".]]

* [[spoiler: UnwittingPawn: Margaret and Mrs Jelf.]]
* VictorianLondon

* YourCheatingHeart: Margaret perceives Helen as this, although [[UnreliableNarrator how fair it is]] is ambiguous.

''Affinity'' is a novel by British author Sarah Waters, first published in 1999. It explores a dark period in the lonely life of Margaret Prior, a youngish spinster from a wealthy English family. Margaret begins visiting a women's prison as a means of escaping her own ennui and in the hopes of being a positive role model for the inmates. There she meets a young prisoner, Selina, with whom she becomes infatuated. But it is unclear what the mysterious inmate's motives are...

* YourCheatingHeart: Margaret perceives Helen as this, although [[UnreliableNarrator how fair it is]] is ambiguous.

* BiTheWay: Helen is likely this.

* VictorianBritain: set in this era, and very much characteristic of its darker elements.

* MyBelovedSmother: Mrs Prior.

* AdaptationDistillation: The TV adaptation replaced [[spoiler: Margaret realising she is a lesbian after falling in love with her future sister-in-law Helen]] with [[spoiler: Margaret becoming attracted to women after her fiancé tries to rape her]].

* CanonImmigrant: Margaret's fiancé, in the adaptation.

* DarkAndTroubledPast: most of the characters in the story.

* VictorianLondon

* AdaptationDistillation: The TV adaptation replaced [[spoiler: Margaret realising she is a lesbian after falling in love with her future sister-in-law Helen]] with [[spoiler: Margaret becoming attracted to women after her fiancé tries to rape her, leading to some [[UnfortunateImplications unfortunate]] [[RapeAndSwitch implications]]]].

* GaolTime: Margaret spends a lot of time in Millbank Prison, as does the prisoner in whom she takes an interest.