STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS - 5th CHAPTER

The 5th chapter provides the conclusion of the two protagonists' situation, in particular of the effects provoked by their inability to communicate. Moreover it gives readers information about Florence's and Edward's future lives.

The first part carries out their characterization through the dialogue, their words, emotions, argumentations. The setting is useful to make the situation tragic, because of darkness that doesn't let them to see each other expressions: it follows that they more easily hurt one another, without feeling sorry at his/her sad or angry face.

The span of time before speaking is described from Florence's point of view; she looks at his approach without defining his real movement: she appears confused and, mainly, afraid of him, since she would like him to come slower. She is actually frightened by facing a dialogue, in which she has to recognize her fault, her guilt and their failed marriage: as a result it will hurt her pride and all her illusions of a wonderful marriage will disappear. She again appears immature and incapable in assuming responsibilities, while Edward has the courage fo face such a dialogue and walks towards her; she also fears problems in an excessive way: the narrator describes her emotions as fear, desperation, a sense of guilt (she was guilty, afraid, desperate, she dreads it).

She looks for something that can justify her when she thinks the conversation shouldn't be made: she refers to social conventions, in particular to the absence of an appropriate language, that brings about embarrassment (she obviously wants to avoid also it).

She is now feeling all the weight derived from past silence between them, a sot of a huge obstacle, that now can't be overcome: the matter lay between them , as solid.., a mountain, a headland, unnameable, unavoidable. The narrator wants to persuade readers how wrong postponing discussions and problems is: finally they have to be faced but with more complexity.

Florence is also characterized trough her opinion about the negative experience and about her responsibility: she now reveals some maturity in admitting all guilt is her, but at the same time she interiorly would like to share guilt with Edward and not to feel ashamed ( the adverb abominably she chooses for herself gradually loses its negative meaning and masks her behaviour). Florence represents a typical childish attitude, finding any sort of solution to avoid responsibilities.

However she later realizes, with a strong adherence to reality, that there was nothing wrong with him. Nothing at all. It was her, only her.

The awareness is followed by a description: Florence is wedged near a fallen tree and she is embraced by its branches: the image symbolizes her desire of finding a refuge to escape Edward, or at least to be nestled and defended. Also in this case she shows her immaturity (this was how an infant might be, securely nestling in the crook of his mother's arm).

Florence begins the dialogue with a sense of fear and of void: she can't define her feelings, that is she isn't conscious of herself or capable in arguing her reasons; as a result her words build a weak reasoning, overcome by anger and pride (she felt antagonistic).

On the contrary Edward shows his new maturity (Edward's progress) in front of a woman interested and irritated by his clothes.

Their anger is useful to make each free in saying what he/she really thinks: finally they don't care of obtaining the lover's good opinion, they now can express themselves (now she could say what she liked).

Edward carries out a realistic speech in which he blames her inability to conforming to real wives and to real women, and he reaches the top insulting her (you're a bitch).

Even if she has just recognized the importance of speaking, Florence doesn't follow his discussion and often tries to move the responsibility from her to him (You're always pushing me, pushing me.. constant pressure); it is an illogical accusation, that hides her own difficulty, and not a real pressure, that Edward can't understand: as a matter of fact he considers affection displays ordinary inclination and demonstrates her incompatibility with the matter.

On the contrary his frequent behaviour appears cruel to Florence, as if it prevented her from being herself (her real nature can't accept such manners); but love relationship can't last on a constant refusal (she defines it to be in love, to be herself, to set each other free).

Also in this case she is too proud to admit her real sensation, through which Edward will understand her problem, and she guides the conversation to money, something outside her.

Florence's reflection is considerable when she recognizes one of basic problems in their relationship, that is being always polite and worried about the lover's opinion: the sequence is put in her mind, but it is actually a message conveyed by the narrator: being yourself is necessary to build a real and strong relationship.

Even if Edward goes on blaming her, she appears more cruel, stubborn and arrogant, for example when she despises his moods (wrong, hurtful. How pathetic!). on the other side Edward gives her all responsibilities (as for the marriage failure) and persuades her to look for a solution.

Tha narrator enriches their characterization through their opinion about Florence's proposal.

It reveals her innovative position (as for social rules), her real problems (she finally admits what is wrong with her), her idea of marriage (a condition built only on feelings, without deep loyalty, without wife's or husband's efforts/responsibilities). Edward's indignation, described as a violent triumph, affects readers' opinion, who consider her words illogical, stupid, immature...; actually Florence's thought is today very frequent in some matrimonial lives that are only utilitarian.

Edward's answer has a traditional base, connected to matrimonial and social rules; besides he believes to have been tricked by her.

At the end of the dialogue the reader gets the impression that Edward has reached a higher level of maturity, demonstrated by his realism, logic, sense of duty; on the contrary Florence, even if also she is now more realistic and a little more honest, escapes from her difficulty, because she doesn't try to solve it either with Edward or with other men.

As for their future lives, Edward initially feels a victim, but then tries to build a new life, without success: his awareness of having lost a great possibility of living his true love obsesses him and makes him feel guilty, inadequate, lonely, unambitious .... In spite of such sense of void, he makes experiences and understands sense of life. Finally, affected by the effects of the Cultural Revolution, he understands Florence's past proposal was not ridiculous, but generous; if they had loved with more patience, they would maybe have been more possibilities of solving problems.

Florence becomes a great musician, always keeping her fear, without making new experience: she repeats the models acquired in her family connected to economical resource. She seems not to become aware, but she remains naïve, unsure, without approaching to sense of life.

The narrator shows how much economical condition affects one's growth and awareness of existence; moreover readers understand that living negative conditions, difficulties and also failure is necessary to become adult and recognize the real aspect of human life.