Love

One of the central tensions of the novel is the unresolved feeling of love that Arthur has towards Freddy, and the novel uses this tension as a way of exploring the more harrowing aspects of romantic love as a concept. The reason Arthur originally decides to go on his international trip is because he does not wish to attend Freddy’s wedding to someone else. Not only would Arthur be embarrassed to attend as Freddy’s ex-lover, but he also would implicitly be unable to bear the heartbreak of the experience. However, Arthur still feels a strong sense of heartbreak on his trip. The morning after Freddy’s wedding day, Arthur thinks somberly to himself, “And now it’s over. Freddy Pelu is married” (126). Arthur eventually manages to come to terms with this heartbreak, but in a narrative twist, Freddy realizes that he loves Arthur, and...