Love and Emotional Turmoil

In Leading Men, the romantic relationships are defined by emotional conflict, following similar patterns of dependence, withdrawal, and resentment. Frank’s narration gives readers insight into the polar dynamic between himself and Tenn, which operates between extreme happiness and intense chaos. Readers have an outside perspective on the relationship of Sandro and Jack, in which Frank’s narration describes predominantly negative interactions between them.

Tennessee refers to himself and Frank as men of feeling, meaning they have an innate tendency to react with intense emotion; this causes them to experience highs and lows, with no middle ground. Frank and Tenn repeatedly refer to storms and nightingales to describe their relationship, which function as motifs. Frank describes himself as a palm tree in a hurricane in reference to enduring Tennessee’s depressed moods. When they are happy together and physically intimate, they describe the...