Sharp Objects

by

Gillian Flynn

Jackie O’Neele Character Analysis

Jackie is Adora’s oldest and ostensibly best friend in Wind Gap, a wealthy and pampered woman whose alcoholism and forays into plastic surgery are open secrets in town. Jackie and Adora have been feuding when Camille first arrives in Wind Gap, though the sweet—and often inebriated—Jackie treats Camille warmly, even inviting her to come to lunch and gossip with her and her friends. When Camille grows suspicious of her mother’s involvement in the deaths of Ann and Natalie, whom she was tutoring—and begins to believe that her mother intentionally killed her perpetually sick younger sister, Marian, years ago—she seeks out Jackie, who more or less confirms the truth. Adora did kill Marian, and has gotten away with it for all these years—“A beautiful girl can get away with anything,” Jackie says, “if she plays nice.”
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Jackie O’Neele Character Timeline in Sharp Objects

The timeline below shows where the character Jackie O’Neele appears in Sharp Objects. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
Rejecting Femininity  Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
...Mimi, and Tish. They interrogate Camille about whether she is married and has children before Jackie O’Neele—one of Adora’s oldest friends—swoops in to save Camille from the gossipy group. (full context)
Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationships Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
Jackie has clearly just had a facelift, and she is covered in diamond jewelry. She wraps... (full context)
Chapter 6
Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationships Theme Icon
...misspelling instead translates to “the mother.” Camille heads there for a drink and runs into Jackie O’Neele and a group of Adora’s friends. The women invite her over to their table... (full context)
Rejecting Femininity  Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
Camille asks the women who they all think committed the murders. Jackie says she believes Bob Nash, a “pervert” who always stares at her breasts in the... (full context)
Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationships Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
...Keene really could be responsible—she mentions that she heard some gossip from some local teens. Jackie, thoroughly drunk, tells Camille that Amma is trouble. Another one of the women chimes in... (full context)
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
After brunch, Jackie’s words stick with Camille, and she wonders whether she really should get out of Wind... (full context)
Chapter 13
Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationships Theme Icon
Abuse, Victimization, and Control Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
...talk to—she suddenly realizes that she needs someone who knows Adora, and decides to find Jackie O’Neele. (full context)
Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationships Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
Camille arrives at Jackie’s house, where a girl she went to high school with opens the door and lets... (full context)
Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationships Theme Icon
Abuse, Victimization, and Control Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
 Jackie asks Camille why she’s come over, and Camille says she wants to talk about Adora.... (full context)
Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationships Theme Icon
Abuse, Victimization, and Control Theme Icon
Rejecting Femininity  Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
Having Camille out of wedlock, Jackie muses, should have “ruined” Adora—but, Jackie says, “a beautiful girl can get away with anything... (full context)
Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationships Theme Icon
Abuse, Victimization, and Control Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
Jackie downs several pills, and Camille asks what kind of person Adora used to be. Jackie... (full context)
Chapter 14
Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationships Theme Icon
Abuse, Victimization, and Control Theme Icon
Secrets, Lies, and Disguises Theme Icon
Camille leaves Jackie’s house, still reeling from the information she’s just received. She wonders whether Adora was ever... (full context)