Character Relationship Map: Mesmerized

Characters

• Oliver Thompson (played by John Lithgow) — protagonist

  Oliver Thompson is the much older, wealthy businessman whom Victoria marries after being orphaned. Their marriage becomes increasingly damaging, producing severe emotional and physical strain. Victori...

• Victoria (played by Jodie Foster) — protagonist

  Victoria is an orphaned eighteen-year-old New Zealand girl who marries the much older Oliver Thompson. As their marriage deteriorates, she develops a private ritual of reading and hypnotizing him, usi...

• Wilson (played by Michael Murphy) — supporting
• George (played by Dan Shor) — supporting

  George is the brother of Victoria's deceased husband, Oliver Thompson. Unlike the destructive marriage that dominates Victoria's life, George is the man she loves. After Victoria is acquitted of poiso...

• Old Thompson (played by Harry Andrews) — supporting
• Mrs. Simmons (played by Beryl Te Wiata) — supporting
• Burley (played by Jonathan Hardy) — supporting
• Mr. Simmons (played by Reg Evans) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

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

• Wilson → Mr. Simmons (Professional Employer) — Mr. Simmons works for Wilson
• Victoria → Wilson (Professional Employee) — Victoria works for Wilson
• Oliver Thompson → Wilson (Professional Employer) — Wilson is Oliver's employer
• Oliver Thompson → Victoria (Romantic Interest) — Oliver develops feelings for Victoria
• Oliver Thompson → Old Thompson (Family Father) — Old Thompson is Oliver's father

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Wilson → Burley (Alliance Business Partner) — Wilson and Burley work together
• Victoria → Mrs. Simmons (Social Acquaintance) — Victoria knows Mrs. Simmons
• Oliver Thompson → George (Social Friend) — Oliver and George are friends

Story Analysis

An orphaned young woman enters an oppressive marriage, uses hypnosis and chloroform against her husband, survives an inconclusive trial, and leaves with George.

Plot Progression

1. An Unequal Marriage — An orphaned eighteen-year-old girl marries a much older wealthy businessman in New Zealand. Their unequal marriage soon produces emotional and physical strain.
2. Pressure Around The Household — The couple's conflict spreads beyond the marriage to family, servants, business associates, trade associates, and clientele. The surrounding social world is affected by their deteriorating relationshi...
3. The Hypnotic Poisoning — The young woman creates a game in which she reads to her husband and hypnotizes him. During hypnosis, she feeds him chloroform and gradually poisons him.
4. Trial Without Proof — After the businessman dies, the young woman is arrested and accused of poisoning him. Chloroform is found in his stomach, but the evidence does not prove her involvement.
5. Departure Into Uncertainty — She is acquitted and leaves New Zealand with George, whom she loves. The film closes by stating that the story was based on a real character, crime, and trial, while assuming their emigration to Ameri...