In the present text I’m going to analyse the third chapter of “Normal People”.

To start with, in the first paragraph Connell and Marianne are talking about Connell’ choice about University. In this way the intelligent reader takes one of the most important topics of the novel: Connell’s insecurity. He isn’t autonomous to take a decision alone; he needs someone who advises him (in this case Marianne). After that, the third-person narrator changes the argument: he tells the first time the two friends have sex. In this paragraph the narrator reports some details of their relation. But it is only a pretext to make a comparison between Connell and Marianne. On one side there is Connell and his insecurity, his dependence; on the other hand, there is Marianne and her autonomy and her independence.

Another significant topic of the novel is the role of Lorraine. Connell has no male figure in his life, so he lives only with his mother. For that reason, Lorraine is very protective to Connell. She wanted to know everything about his child, and she doesn’t allow Connell to have his spaces, and his private life.

In another paragraph appears another character: Rob. He’s a Connell’s friend, but there aren’t any presentations about him. When Rob talks to Connell, he uses a particular expression refers to Marianne: he names Marianne’s house “natural habitat”. This expression has a considerable meaning: it shows to the intelligent reader how Rob and other people see Marianne. They don’t consider her like all, but stranger than anyone. That expression is used to refer to animals, and here Marianne is considered like another thing.

Furthermore, going on, there is a paragraph about Connell’s feelings. He wants to have sex with Marianne and sometimes he fancies about her. The intelligent reader understands that Connell represents the male gender, who always needs to satisfy his necessities. But Connell is insecure about his choices, he is afraid of being judged. So, he starts thinking about Marianne’s character: actually, he would also like to be like Marianne. Marianne is free, she doesn’t care about the judgements of others, not even Connell’s.

Later, the chapter closes as it started, with the scene of Connell and Marianne talking about the choice of the University. So, the image of Connell’s insecurity is once again present, which lets itself be convinced by the choice of Marianne. Another time there is present the image of Connell’s fear about other judgements too.

To conclude, the third-person narrator make a thought where Connell realizes that with Marianne, he can be free as her too. In this way he can live two existences. One with Marianne and feeling free, the other at school where he can be liked. So, the third chapter is more concentrate on Connell’s attitude than Marianne’s. The intelligent reader understands the main concepts about him, like insecurity, his feelings for Marianne, his fair about judgements and the fair of not being accepted.