“The Girl on the Train“ by Paula Hawkins presents quotes that blend descriptions, conversations, and ideas of the characters in “The Girl on the Train.” The quotes are sometimes contemplative and self-examining. They are used to analyze the complexities of individuals and the consequences of actions.
Lessons about addiction, relationships, abuse, and distorted perceptions are taught as the plot advances and events unfold. Fundamentally part of the narrative structure, quotes add to the novel’s psychological profundity.
Guilt, Blame, Shame
“I fell asleep in the afternoon. I woke feverish and panicky. Guilty. I do feel guilty. Just not guilty enough.”
Megan thinks about her infidelity; Chapter 6.
While Megan reflects on her extramarital affair, she admits to feeling only a bit of guilt. As she expresses these thoughts, she considers the consequences of her actions. She loves the fact that her lover wants to stop cheating but cannot control himself.
The combination of guilt and desire illustrates her dysfunction, escalating the tension. While she deals with emotional turmoil, her affair offers an escape from the dissatisfaction with her life.
“I enjoyed it. I loved it, in fact, I never felt guilty. I pretended I did.”
Anna reminisces on her affair with Tom after he leaves for work; Chapter 26
Before her marriage to Tom, Anna was his mistress. They had a strong relationship that she was proud of. However, Anna lied to her married friends about feeling guilty. In truth, she felt no guilt or sympathy for Tom’s wife even before she knew about her constant drunkenness.
This quote illustrates Anna’s enjoyment of her affair with Tom. Instead of remorse, she confesses to pretending to be sorry to conform to societal expectations of mistresses. Significantly, it shows her indifference towards Rachel. The author uses this quote to highlight the morally questionable relationships the characters engage in.
“He removes his hand, his face a picture of contrition, of deep shame.”
Tom’s reaction when Anna accuses him of exposing them to danger; Chapter 34
Towards the end of the book, Tom’s affair with Megan comes to light. While he explains that the relationship was merely a fling, Anna berates him for exposing their daughter to harm by employing Megan as a nanny. Briefly apologetic, Tom accepts the blame.
This moment showcases Tom’s deceptive ways as his display of remorse opposes the lack of accountability throughout the plot. The harmful relationship between Tom and Anna advances the plot. She eventually discovers the truth and this shatters her idea of a perfect marriage.
“Jesus, aren’t you ashamed? Do you have any idea of what I’m going through here?”
Scott to Rachel when she tells him about Megan, at his house; Chapter 19.
While investigating Megan’s disappearance, Rachel visits Scott to ask about Megan’s relationship with Anna Watson. She indirectly suggests that Anna should be a suspect. Knowing the bad blood between them, Scott cuts Rachel off and warns against involving Megan and himself in her conflict.
Scott expresses his anger and frustration towards Rachel in this quote. Earlier, the police identifies him as a suspect in Megan’s murder, overwhelming him. The moment presents a deeper perspective of his character by illustrating the emotional torture of losing a loved one.
“I’m going to tell him everything: that I lost my job months ago, that I was very drunk on Saturday night and I have no idea what time I came home.”
Rachel’s thinks about lying to Detective Gaskill; Chapter 7.
While Detective Gaskill investigates Megan’s disappearance, Anna tells him Rachel was in the area where Megan lived. He visits Rachel and when he asks about her job, she lies. She also lies about her level of intoxication during the time Megan disappears. After the interview, she feels guilty and makes a mental note to return to Gaskill to confess. Aware that he will check her statement, she does not want him to find out she lied himself.
Rachel thinks this during an internal debate where she recognizes that her lies could jeopardize her integrity. Her fragmented memory, combined with the fear of being exposed, makes her consider confessing to prevent suspicion.
This quote signifies the consequences of alcoholism. Rachel is always getting into trouble. The moment in the book also contributes to the exploration of deception and truth.
Memory
“I wait for the memory to come. Sometimes it takes a while. Sometimes it’s there in front of my eyes in seconds. Sometimes it doesn’t come at all.”
Rachel thinks to herself after a blackout on the stairs at Witney station; Chapter 3.
Rachel witnesses a scene that sets the foundation of the mystery but cannot recall anything because she was heavily drunk while the events unfolded As the story progresses, she tries desperately to remember what she encountered that night.
The inability to remember what happened that night frustrates Rachel, especially since she thinks she played a part in Megan’s fate. The fragmented nature of her recollections highlights her instability.
“I’m going to Witney instead. I’m hoping that being there will jog my memory, that I’ll get to the station and I’ll see everything clearly, I’ll know.”
Rachel’s thought to herself when Megan disappears; Chapter 7.
Rachel thinks she played a role in Megan’s disappearance. Since she was drunk the entire time, she cannot remember what she did. She returns to where she experienced the unsettling encounter to work on her memory.
This thought comes to Rachel’s because she thinks she contributed to Megan’s disappearance. She fears she may have hurt Megan. Her guilt and restlessness drive her to return to the scene for clarity. The quote explains the mental torture Rachel passes through as she struggles with alcohol and guilt. Even though she thinks she committed a crime, she invests in uncovering her actions. Rachel’s memory loss builds suspense within the plot.
“I dreamed of it. I willed her to come along one day, to see him with me, to know in an instant that he was no longer hers. It’s hard to believe now that there was once a time when I wanted her to appear.”
Anna thinks of her days as a mistress in her house; Chapter 14.
Anna reflects on her past as Tom’s mistress, remembering how she once wished Rachel would catch them together so she would know she had lost Tom. However, now that Rachel bothers their lives, her desire for Rachel’s presence has turned into frustration and fear.
This quote illustrates the shift in Anna’s feelings toward Rachel. She had wanted Rachel’s interference for a sense of triumph, but that has transformed into resentment as Rachel continues to intrude in their lives. Anna’s excitement of being the kept woman changes to exhaustion as Rachel makes her family a target of obsession.
“He is a good liar, a natural. I’ve seen him doing it: convincing check-in staff that we were honeymooners, for example, or talking his way out of extra hours at work by claiming a family emergency.”
Anna thinks about her husband; Chapter 26.
Anna remembers how Tom lied exceptionally well while they were dating. As a married couple. Anna tries to convince herself she knows when Tom lies but realizes he has perfectly fooled her times before. These thoughts come as she wonders whether he is cheating with his ex-wife. As she becomes increasingly suspicious of Tom’s activities, her doubts lead her to reassess past situations where she witnessed his manipulative behavior.
This quote signifies a change in Anna’s perception of Tom. Her recognition of his deceptive nature increases the tension in their relationship. It also contributes to the novel’s theme of manipulation and lies. While Anna once admired Tom’s expertise, she now sees it as a potential threat to her safety.
Perception and Assumption
“I think I’ll be happy if I never have to set foot outside the house again. I don’t even miss working. I just want to remain safe and warm in my haven with Scott, undisturbed.”
Megan thinks about her life in her house; Chapter 6.
Here, Megan assumes she will be happier if she stays inside her house forever. While thinking this, she admits to missing her husband and wanting to have sex with him. This thought emphasizes her feelings of isolation and a need for protection.
Megan thinks this because she is struggling with trauma and believes that by isolating herself from the outside world, she can find comfort. Her marriage to Scott, especially their sexual life, becomes her way of coping with trauma. Hawkins portrays Megan’s vulnerability here, contributing to her character development. Later in the book, Megan’s need for security and emotional fulfillment leads to her death.
“The police think I’m a rubbernecker. They think I’m a stalker, a nutcase, mentally unstable. I should never have gone to the police station.”
Rachel thinks about how the officers treat her; Chapter 7.
Rachel remembers her visit to the police station. She presents details she thinks will help solve Megan’s case, but she is called an unstable witness. As Rachel tries to defend herself, she regrets coming at all. However, she becomes more interested in solving the case and forgets about drinking.
This quote signifies Rachel’s hurt about the police’s dismissive attitude toward her. Her past mistakes continue to haunt her, affecting how others perceive her credibility. The quote is important because it explains Rachel’s self-doubt and frustration. The police’s treatment highlights society’s tendency to disregard those with mental health or addiction issues, despite their good intentions. Although she initially regrets her involvement in the case, her determination grows, and she does not give up.
“But I believed him for a second—more than a second—and that’s what really pisses me off. I was ridiculous, credulous. He was laughing at me all along.”
Megan’s thoughts about her lover when he refuses to communicate; Chapter 12.
Megan thinks about her relationship with her lover. She is angry when he says he cannot continue for ethical and professional reasons. She concludes he does not want her enough. She blames herself for assuming he loves her. She decides she will have her revenge if he keeps ignoring her.
This quote explains Megan’s complex emotions that range from anger to shame to longing. It showcases her deep insecurity in relationships. Her desire for revenge reveals her toxicity when things do not go how she wants.
“You might think I’m overreacting, but I can’t take any risks where my family is concerned.”
Anna to Detective Riley about Rachel; Chapter 25.
When Anna catches Rachel lurking around the house, she reports to Detective Riley. Bothered that Rachel may hurt them, she strives to protect her family. During her conversation with the detective, she explains that Rachel is unstable and talks about her appearance at Scott Hipwell’s house on different occasions.
Anna says this to Detective Riley out of concern for her family, particularly her child. Rachel’s erratic behavior, constant appearances around their home, and connection to Megan’s disappearance make her a suspect. This quote demonstrates Anna’s desire to keep her family safe. She is also insecure, especially about her husband’s past with Rachel.
Loss
“And I think about how he lost his family when he was a teenager, so maybe he does. I feel sad for him. He comes in from the kitchen and sits at my side, comfortably close.”
Megan’s thought about Kama at his house; Chapter 21.
At Kamal Abdic’s home, Megan thinks briefly about how he lost his family before she begins to talk about the death of her child. Her reflection on the loss of his family is to understand him and build an emotional connection. Her attraction for him deepens because they have both experienced loss.
This quote analyzes Megan’s vulnerability and tendency to form dangerous attachments to men. As her therapist, their emotional entanglement is professionally wrong, but she refuses to stop. Her thoughts on his loss show her longing for connection, which fuels her need for validation and intimacy.
“They’re what I used to be, they’re Tom and me five years ago. They’re what I lost, they’re everything I want to be.”
Rachel admits her envy of Megan and Scott’s marriage; Chapter 1.
At the beginning of “The Girl on the Train,” Rachel is a divorced woman who cannot have a child. On her daily train ride, she obs Their happiness reminds Rachel of her former life with Tom. She admits to her longing for the seemingly perfect relationship this couple has.
Rachel thinks about the loss of her husband and their perfect life together. While doing this, she projects her fantasies on Megan and Scott. This quote signifies Rachel’s ability to twist narratives to fit her assumptions. The quote explores her feelings of inadequacy and loss.
