The Nanny

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses child neglect.

Self-doubt and similar insecurities affect characters throughout the novel, often leading them to take drastic measures in their relationships. Sophie and Aiden experience doubt about their familial relationship following Rebecca’s death, while Cassie’s lack of confidence stems from a childhood of neglect, illustrating how deeply past experiences influence the present.

Sophie and Aiden’s father-daughter relationship is marked by self-doubt as both question the strength of their family unit. As The Nanny progresses, Sophie begins to doubt herself more and more. She tells Cassie early in their relationship that she feels like a burden to Aiden and doesn’t want to tell him she misses him because she thinks it would make him mad. This feeling grows until she confesses to Cassie that she thinks Aiden and Cassie are mad about what happened to Wanda, saying, “He doesn’t want to keep me anymore because I ran you off” (386). Similarly, Aiden doubts his ability to be a good parent to Sophie, telling Cassie multiple times, “She’ll have a better time with you than she ever would with me” (82). It is partially Aiden’s self-doubt that leads him to look for a nanny, as he thinks he can’t give Sophie the life she deserves with his work schedule.