Character Relationship Map: Lizzie

Characters

• Elizabeth Richmond (played by Eleanor Parker) — protagonist

  Elizabeth is the troubled central character, suffering recurring headaches and insomnia while receiving letters from someone she cannot remember. Under hypnosis, Dr. Wright discovers her distinct Eliz...

• Aunt Morgan (played by Joan Blondell) — supporting

  Aunt Morgan is Elizabeth's aunt and knows about the events surrounding Elizabeth's mother's death. She has shown little sympathy for her niece's suffering, but when Elizabeth retrieves the memory that...

• Elizabeth's Mother (played by Dorothy Arnold) — supporting

  Elizabeth's mother is described as an abusive alcoholic. She arrives late to young Elizabeth's birthday with her drunken boyfriend, and Elizabeth loses her temper with her; her mother then collapses a...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Elizabeth's Mother → Elizabeth Richmond (mother)
• Elizabeth Richmond → Aunt Morgan (Family Aunt) — Blood relation with a history of familial obligation and distance.

Story Analysis

A woman confronts divided identities and buried childhood trauma while moving toward psychological integration.

Plot Progression

1. Letters Behind the Headaches — Elizabeth suffers headaches and insomnia while receiving letters from an unfamiliar Lizzie. The unexplained messages lead toward psychiatric investigation.
2. The Divided Self Revealed — Hypnosis exposes three personalities within Elizabeth: the shy Elizabeth, the dangerous Lizzie, and the kind Beth. Dr. Wright adopts the goal of helping Beth become dominant.
3. The Birthday Guilt — The investigation returns to Elizabeth's childhood birthday, when her mother arrived drunk and later collapsed and died. Elizabeth has carried responsibility for the death.
4. The Buried Violation — A second memory reveals that the mother's boyfriend raped young Elizabeth. Aunt Morgan, who knew about the earlier events, reacts with anger, shock, and genuine remorse.
5. Beth Claims the Mirror — Alone in her bedroom, Elizabeth stages an internal battle through a three-way mirror. Beth wins dominance, while Dr. Wright promises continued help.