Corrupt

Content Warning: This section contains references to suicide.

Erika “Rika” Fane is the protagonist of the novel. She is an only child known for her beauty and intelligence and for her vast, inherited wealth. Her father ran a successful jewelry empire before he died in a car accident. Rika survived the car accident but has a thin scar on her neck because of it: “The scar ran diagonally, about two inches long, on the left side of my neck, and although it had faded with time, I still felt like it was the first thing people noticed about me” (17-18). Many of the men in her life dislike looking at the scar because they feel it diminishes her beauty. This criticism highlights a pattern found throughout the novel: The men in Rika’s life view her as an object to be acquired, either for financial gain or for the status that comes with dating someone of such beauty. Michael alone loves her scar and thinks it highlights her strength. Ultimately, Michael’s love and attention gives Rika the empowerment she needs to accept her life, including difficult aspects like her scar and the trauma that comes along with it.