Love

The novel examines several instances of romantic love in the novel, and in this thematic sphere, the novel is most prominently preoccupied with instances of thwarted love as representative of the struggles on knowing both oneself and others. One prominent example of this dynamic is between Lynsey and James. Lynsey and James begin dating in high school, and they originally intend for it to be a relatively relaxed relationship. However, not long into their relationship, “it was getting more serious between them than they’d expected, but neither of them knew how to bring it up” (121). The relationship eventually ends after they matriculate to separate universities. However, this tendency towards seriousness appears to be indicative of a particularly strong romantic attraction between the two characters. This attraction persists even after Lynsey marries someone else, as evidenced by the fact that she kisses James once. Thus, the...