AUGUST 2011 (De Simone Chiara) 

p. 60: "Yeah, he says, no bother" 

COMMENT It is clear Connell wants to talk to Marianne, since they haven't spoken for months. He wants to understand the reason why she dropped school and started to ignore him. The expression "no bother" shows he doesn't want to show he wants to talk with her, he makes it appear to Alan as he doesn't really care either way because he still doesn't want people to know Marianne and he were in a relationship. 

p. 61: "He told her it wasn't 'romantic', and that he and Rachel were just friends." 

COMMENT The way he describes the relationship between him and Rachel implies he would rather go to the Debts with a friend pretending there is more between them, than with Marianne because of the way people think about her. It shows insecurity, embarrassment and it is used like an excuse. 

p. 61: "No. When would I even have time?" 

COMMENT Connell tries to avoid having a serious conversation with Marianne by hiding behind jokes. He is not able to admit he hurt her and the reason why he did it. How he is dealing with it shows cowardice. 

p. 61: "He didn't say anything." 

COMMENT It is clear he hurt and humiliate her. He feels ashamed but at the same time he is too selfish to change what he has done. He is too afraid about what people might think of him. He is scared to become as she is, namely a marginalised without friends. 

NOVEMBER 2011 (De Simone Chiara) 

p. 72: "Oh, right, says Connell. Hi." 

COMMENT: Connell is scared Marianne might do something to embarrass him, after the way they ended their relationship. He would not deal with it: he was already in a place he didn't know anybody and she seemed quite popular. If she said something bad about him, his reputation would be ruined forever. He is sceptical. 

p. 72: "When did you take up smoking?" 

COMMENT Even if they just met for the first time after a while. Connell still cares about her, so when he sees her smoking he immediately asks her about it. 

p. 74: "He couldn't summon up the energy to act normal. At lunch he sat in the same place as always, eating sad mouthfuls of food, not listening to his friends when they spoke. Sometimes he wouldn't notice even when they called his name, and they would have to throw something at him or clip him on the head to get his attention. [...] Then he'd remember what had happened, and wake up feeling so depressed he couldn't move a single muscle in his body."

COMMENT Marianne was his reference point, his way to feel confident. She knew the real him and she liked him. Now he didn't have anyone to turn to and he knew he hurt her. After she left school and him, he gave up on himself, he couldn't keep himself from falling apart. He tried to hide his insecurities by drinking or having anxious sex, making his situation worse instead of reaching a solution. He was not brave enough to face his mistakes and try to solve them, because it would imply admitting to everybody they were in a relationship. He had never had to make the first move or say sorry, because every girl would have been happy to be with him no matter what. He had always had everything he wanted without fighting for it. Therefore he didn't even know where to start to get her back. At this point he depended on her, and it drove him crazy knowing he couldn't have her anymore. 

p. 80: "I thought I was bad going out with Rachel Moran, he says. Your boyfriend's a Holocaust denier." 

COMMENT Connell takes advantage of the nice atmosphere between him and Marianne to admit he made a mistake going out with Rachel and to judge her boyfriend. The way he says it seems innocent at first sight but hides a bitter and malicious meaning. 

p. 88: "I hope he's really good in bed, Marianne." 

COMMENT Connell considers saying it because of his insecurities. He needs to know if Gareth is better than him, and if yes in what ways. He feels quite possessive towards her as if he is the only one she can sleep with.