Paul Roberts

Paul Roberts is the protagonist and main point-of-view character of the novel. Much of the novel’s narration is framed as Paul’s thoughts as he reflects upon his life as a whole. At the beginning of the narrative, Paul is 19 years old. He is living in a suburban town in England in the 1960s. He falls in love with Susan Macleod, a 48-year-old married woman. Paul and Susan begin to have a discreet romantic relationship. As a young man, Paul abhors commonplace routine and values love as the main purpose of life. After Paul graduates from college, he and Susan move to a small house in London. Paul decides to begin studying to be a lawyer.

Paul becomes somewhat distressed by Susan’s refusal to secure a formal divorce from her husband, and he becomes increasingly distressed as Susan develops a drinking problem, which eventually develops...