We Were Liars Cadence Sinclair Eastman Quotes

It was a horrible thing to do. Maybe. But it was something. It wasn't sitting by, complaining. I am a more powerful person than my mother will ever know. I have trespassed against her and helped her, too. (73.56)

Cadence actually has less power after the accident—she becomes dependent on her mother to dole out meds, take her to the doctor, and otherwise run her life. If anything, her mother becomes more powerful since Cadence can't even spend the night at Cuddledown without her permission.

All my bravado from this morning,

the power,

the perfect crime,

taking down the patriarchy,

the way we Liars saved the summer idyll and made it better,

the way we kept our family together by destroying some part of it—

all that is delusional.

The dogs are dead… (76.3-10)

Remembering the dogs' death is the prelude to remembering the Liars'. Knowing she killed the dogs is horrific enough; knowing she killed the people she loved most is unbearable.

She confused being sick with being brave, and suffered agonies while imagining she merited praise for it. (79.21)

The Liars become martyrs for a cause, but Gat, Johnny, and Mirren get to go out in a (literal) blaze of glory, while Cadence is left to deal with a lifetime of suffering. It's a long, crippling, pathetic martyrdom.