Curated set · answers marked
Question: At the start of The Silent Patient, what is Alicia Berenson famous for before she completely stops speaking?
Rationale
Alicia Berenson is a celebrated painter, and her sudden silence — after allegedly shooting her husband Gabriel five times — adds an air of mystery to her story. Her final painting, Alcestis, serves as an important clue in the novel.
*Quiz Question: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides*
Question: At the start of The Silent Patient, Alicia Berenson is arrested for a shocking crime. What exactly did she do, and why did her behavior afterward disturb investigators and the public so much?
A. She poisoned her husband Gabriel and then fled the country, refusing to talk to authorities until she was brought back.
B. She shot her husband Gabriel five times in the face and then never spoke another word, refusing to explain her actions.
C. She stabbed her husband Gabriel and then gave a lengthy confession that the court later found unreliable.
D. She pushed her husband Gabriel off a balcony and then claimed she couldn’t remember what happened.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Alicia Berenson shot her husband Gabriel five times in the face and then went completely silent — never speaking again. Her silence becomes the central mystery of the novel, prompting criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber to uncover the truth behind her motive.
Question: What is the title of the painting that Alicia Berenson creates after she shoots her husband, which acts as a crucial clue throughout the novel?
Rationale
Alicia paints Alcestis — inspired by the Greek myth of a woman who gives up her life for her husband — soon after killing Gabriel. The title and imagery of the painting become vital evidence that therapist Theo Faber obsessively seeks to decode in order to grasp Alicia's motive and silence.