Alias Grace is a compelling mystery, and its ending reveals a complex resolution. The key question throughout the series is whether Grace Marks is responsible for the murders of her employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery. The answer is both yes and no. In the final episode, Grace undergoes hypnosis, slipping into a semi-conscious state. As she speaks, a new voice emerges—one that is cruel, abrupt, and vulgar. This new voice suggests Grace suffers from multiple personality disorder. Sometimes she is the innocent maid, Grace Marks, and at other times, she becomes Mary Whitney, the vengeful spirit of Grace’s deceased friend. Ultimately, it is Mary Whitney, not Grace, who is the real murderer.
Alias Grace Ending Explained
This resolution aligns well with the themes explored in Alias Grace. Like Margaret Atwood’s original novel, the mini-series employs quilting as a metaphor to explore various concepts. These include female labor, domesticity, and patchwork images that come together to form a bigger picture. The fragmented nature of Grace’s mind mirrors this quilting theme, and it is only when we step back and view all the parts of her identity that we understand the full mystery.
There are multiple possible explanations for Grace’s behavior and her apparent split personality. It’s possible that Grace truly has multiple personalities. Maybe Mary Whitney’s soul entered Grace’s body after her death, whispering, “Let me in,” and taking over. Alternatively, Grace may suffer from amnesia and be unaware of committing the murders, or even of what happened during the gaps in her life.
The Fabrication of the Mary Whitney Story
Another intriguing possibility is that the entire Mary Whitney hypnosis performance is fabricated. Perhaps Grace and Jeremiah collaborated to create the illusion of Mary Whitney’s possession. Jeremiah’s “Dr. Jerome DuPont” identity is, after all, a sham. His involvement in mesmerism is financially motivated, as it pays more than his previous occupation as a peddler. It’s not out of the question that he and Grace staged the Mary Whitney performance to suggest Grace’s innocence and advance his career in the process.
One of the most compelling moments in the series comes when “Mary Whitney” provides a key clue about the murder. Under hypnosis, Whitney’s voice describes the crime, mentioning how Montgomery was strangled with a handkerchief—the same handkerchief that once belonged to Mary Whitney’s mother. This handkerchief was given to Grace years earlier, making it a significant piece of the puzzle. The scene is satisfying because it offers a “click” of recognition. However, it’s important to remember that the only reason we know about this handkerchief—and by extension, Mary Whitney—is because Grace Marks told us. The entire theory of Mary Whitney is based on Grace’s account.
Grace’s Story: Truth or Fabrication?
The mini-series primarily focuses on Grace’s life, from her childhood to the events leading up to the murders. However, it’s essential to note that this story is told through Grace’s voice-over narration. Everything we know about Grace comes from what she chooses to share with Dr. Jordan. This raises questions about the reliability of her story. How can we know if what Grace says is true? How do we know that Mary Whitney even exists, or if she’s entirely a product of Grace’s imagination? Since Mrs. Alderman Parkinson is dead, Dr. Jordan never follows up to verify Grace’s claims, leaving the door open for doubt. Who’s to say if Grace’s stories of abuse are accurate?
In Margaret Atwood’s novel, the concept of Grace as an unreliable narrator is more apparent. The first-person narrative, combined with a lack of dialogue markers, encourages readers to question the accuracy of Grace’s words. The story feels uncertain, and it’s easy to lose track of what is real and what is imagined. In the show, however, it’s harder to maintain that same level of skepticism. As viewers, we tend to trust what we see unless the narrative provides visual clues to undermine the events. Unlike other shows like Mr. Robot or Legion, Alias Grace doesn’t prompt us to actively question the reliability of the story.
Hints in the Visual Language of the Series
Nevertheless, the adaptation by Mary Harron and Sarah Polley still hints at Grace’s unreliability. The visual language of the show—interspersing pieces of Grace’s story, such as Nancy’s death and Mary Whitney’s life—suggests that we are witnessing Grace’s version of events. This is not an omniscient perspective but one shaped by Grace’s experiences and memories. For example, we see images of an apple peel falling to the floor or the unsettling image of Nancy’s forehead opening like an overripe fruit. These moments are filtered through Grace’s perspective, suggesting her subjective view of the world.
Grace herself acknowledges her unreliability, especially in a letter she writes to Dr. Jordan after marrying Jamie Walsh. Grace reflects on her relationship with Walsh, noting that he is kind but obsessed with her past. She writes, “He likes to picture the suffering I have endured,” and says, “He listens to it all like a child listening to a fairy tale.” In order to satisfy his curiosity, Grace admits that she sometimes changes the details of her stories to suit what others want to hear. She confesses, “I may have changed some of the details of my stories to suit what I thought you wanted to hear. It did make me feel I was of some use in this world.” Grace knows she’s lying, and she’s performing for an audience. She’s fully aware of her unreliability.
Alias Grace: A Story of Performance and Perception
Despite Grace’s acknowledgment of her own unreliability, Alias Grace doesn’t suggest that we should completely doubt her. The ending of the mini-series isn’t focused on Grace’s honesty or innocence. Instead, it raises a larger question: Why do we, as viewers, find it so entertaining to watch a woman suffer? What do we want from Grace Marks? What version of her life would be most extraordinary or remarkable? How can she make herself visible to a wealthy, educated doctor, given her status as a poor, uneducated maid?
Alias Grace is a remarkable story precisely because it leaves the question of whether Grace Marks killed Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery unanswered. While the mystery remains unresolved, the mini-series delivers a poignant critique of society. It indicts us, the viewers, for our disinterest in women’s lives unless they are sensationalized or sensational. The real charge is against our voyeuristic tendencies, seeking out suffering and spectacle instead of truly understanding women’s stories. Ultimately, Alias Grace exposes the complexity of perception and the biases that shape how we view the lives of others.
