What is Belle's secret?

Question

The final pages of *Death of a Ghost* describe Mrs. Lefcadio looking at a self-portrait of her husband, and much is made of how different it is from the famous Sargent portrait of the man. And then she turns it over:> Written across the back in the painter’s enormous hand was a single phrase:*'Your secret, Belle darling.'*The old lady returned to the portrait. She touched her lips with her forefinger and pressed it on the painted mouth.'Oh, Johnnie,' she said sadly. 'Such a lot of trouble, my dear. Such a lot of trouble.'What is the secret John Lefcadio was reminding Belle of, and which of the novel's troubles did it cause or represent?

Answer 1

The secret Belle carries alludes to John Lefcadio's personal struggles and his idealized image of himself.The self-portrait contrasts sharply with the famous Sergeant portrait - his private self versus his public image. The phrase "Your secret, Belle darling,"suggests a hidden truth about both Belle and her husband. The burden of hiding their true selves and projecting expected personas to society caused them emotional distress. Belle's secret reflects a broad commentary on the human condition - people hide their true selves and live behind a facade, creating internal conflict and a struggle with identity.