In Julian Barnes’ novel, Love
etc., there are three main characters: Gillian, Stuart and Oliver. Stuart
and Gillian were married, but quickly after she fell in love with Stuart’s best
friend, Oliver, forming an unbreakable love triangle. The story is written as if it were to be
written like a play. Each character
talks in a first-person narrative describing their perspective of the past and
the relationships formed. Through this
narration Stuart reveals how he has never moved on from Gillian and fights to
get her back into his life. At the very
end, he succeeds, however, there comes a controversial scene. Stuart believes Gillian had consented (I’m
trying to sound as PG as possible) to engaging in sexual activities, whereas
Gillian believes she was raped and ultimately ends up pregnant. Since there are three narrators, most
characters seem to like Stuart up until the ending where they are confused as
to whether he really is a hero or a villain.
Gillian, who is a very controversial character with readers for leaving
her husband for another man, tries to justify her actions. Oliver, I personally believe is just plain
annoying…hopefully other readers have the same opinion as I do. He’s arrogant, cocky, prideful, and honestly
I believe he shouldn’t because he has nothing to brag about.
Looking at Stuart, I would say that he could be a double
agent, or a hero and villain. He tries
to help Gillian and her family, getting them into a new home, better lifestyle,
helping her family, etc. But his motives
at the end are controversial. Did he
really rape Gillian? Or was it a mutual
agreement? The ambiguity sort of allows him to be both the good guy and bad guy
of the situation.
Something interesting that I’ve noticed is how the topic of
memory becomes very controversial. By writing
in a three perspective narration style, readers are able to see the
subjectivity of an individual’s recollection of memories and how varying they
can be. It blurs the line between what
is real and fiction.
My question would be: Do you think it’s justifiable to love
two different people like Gillian did?
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