Saint X

In Saint X, the abstract idea of beauty is often used as a prism through which the theme of Awareness of Privilege, Class, and Race is seen. The first chapter spends a great deal of time on the beauty of the island, and the guests’ experiences of this beauty; the pristine nature of the island is often manufactured for the guests by the locals who work at the resorts. Beauty is also introduced as a source of danger, as in the island’s volcano that could erupt at any time.

The narrative also stresses Alison’s beauty as part of what makes her story compelling. As a beautiful white girl, Alison provides a compelling story for series like Dying for Fun, which capitalize on the public’s constant desire for titillation and violence. Later, the book describes a lot of ugliness and dirtiness in Clive’s daily life in New York. When he drives out of the city, the beauty he finds there immediately triggers thoughts of bitterness toward the privileged people who live there. He connects these people with Alison, and it changes the way he thinks about her and the events that shaped his life.