The further we dive into Housekeeping we see Sylvie acting quite suspicious. When Sylvie first comes to the house she wears a satin green dress with a brooch, something most transients wouldn't own. When Lily and Nona comment on her dress as I sign of approval, Sylvie seems quite pleased with herself. This seems to be characteristic of Sylvie: putting on a front.
Once Lily and Nona leave we get a sense of the living conditions of the girls. Sylvie provides them with the necessary things to survive, but in a strange way. When the girls need shoes Sylvie gives them decorated slippers, which are appealing on the outside to Ruth, but they don't keep the water out. Sylvie is also seen with a scarf tied around her head carrying a broom, typical things of a housekeeper, but she doesn't know what to do with them.
Sylvie also has breakfast for dinner every night-- as far as we can tell. Eventually Lucille wants to have "regular" dinner foods and Sylvie puts her in charge of groceries. Sylvie also washes half of a ceiling and the door in one room, showing that she knows that things should be cleaned, but she doesn't quite know how. Sylvie is only doing what she remembers, or thinks needs to be done, and hides in the darkness to avoid showing that she really doesn't know what she needs to do for the girls.
I agree that Sylvie does not know quite what she is doing when it comes to caring for Lucille and Ruth so instead, she does what she thinks is expected of her. But I still think that Sylvie has the best intentions at heart and she genuinely wants what is best for the girls, despite her somewhat incomplete or strange housekeeping habits
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