Love

The marital relationship between Karen and Tom is at the center of the novel. The vicissitudes of their relationship in the face of narrative tension act as a platform for the exploration of love with its many challenges. The novel very clearly establishes that the two years in which Tom and Karen have been married have been happy and fulfilling for both of them. For example, when Tom visits Karen in the hospital, the narration states, “Tom’s heart is full, looking at his wife…Those are the lips he kisses every morning and every night” (21).

However, as more things are revealed about Karen’s obscure past, Tom finds himself doubting the security of their relationship. He does not know if he can face the fact that his wife may have killed someone. On the other hand, his sense of love is so pervasive and established...