Although Caleb is clearly making Livvie do things she would not consciously choose, acts that hurt her loved ones, a portion of Livvie’s subconscious mind seems receptive to Caleb’s urgings. Like Caleb, Livvie is deeply wounded and tormented with self-hatred. She fears insanity, rejection, abandonment and perhaps suspects that she will inevitably destroy her loved ones as she succumbs to the mental illness afflicting others in her family. Caleb offers her the possibility of eternal love, family, the stability that always seems to be taken away from her. Questioning her sanity and needing the unending, unconditional love Caleb promises her, Livvie probably believes she will eventually lose Jack anyway because of her hereditary mental instability so it is better to turn Jack away now, spare them both some future pain, and make her life with Caleb. Perhaps a part of her truly feels Jack would be better off without her. Perhaps being with Caleb and becoming addicted to his dark passions has awakened Livvie to desires she can no longer suppress. Knowing Jack can never satisfy her the way Caleb has, maybe Livvie subconsciously realizes she needs to end her relationship with Jack, but since she is unable to stop loving him she must make him stop loving her.
When Jack, joyfully eager to propose, bursts into Livvie’s hotel room and sees his beloved having sex with another man, he is devastated. However, instead of turning his anger towards Livvie, he takes it on the hapless Kyle, knocking him unconscious, while Livvie, dazed, denies knowledge or responsibility for what has happened. Although Jack still professes his love for Livvie, his relationship with her has changed, his innocent ideals forever tarnished.
As Caleb deviously oversees the success of his plan, using Livvie to fulfill his goals, he is unexpectedly summoned by his long-time adversary, Rafe. The scenes between Caleb and Rafe effectively demonstrate the differences between these familiar foes, emphasizing Caleb’s independence, humor, cleverness, and insight, while showing the dedication both men have towards achieving their purpose. Whereas Rafe is bound by authoritarian rules, traditional morality, and repression, Caleb is autonomous, amoral, and rebellious.
In a solemn, portentous tone Rafe invokes Caleb’s presence. “I speak to all that is evil and call to the one who spreads destruction wherever he walks, the last of his unholy line. I command you to show yourself!”
With his back turned towards his summoner, Caleb appears. “Who calls me?” he asks haughtily, his hair blowing wildly, majestically in the wind. When he turns around and sees Rafe, his arrogance is temporarily replaced by surprise. “It can’t be you,” he says, startled.
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