Three Months Later (p.88-89)

“People here are such snob. Even if they liked me I honestly wouldn’t want to be friends with them. He put his glass down and looked at Marianne. That’s why it’s easy for you, by the way, he said. Because you’re from a rich family, that’s why people like you. She frowned and nodded, and then Connell started laughing. I’m messing with you, he said. Their eyes met. She wanted to laugh, but she didn’t know if the joke was on her.”

The object of the present text is to provide the characterisation of the two main characters of the novel Normal People: Connell and Marianne. In doing so, I will consider an extract drawn from the section Three Months Later  where I am going not only to examine the traditional types of characterisation but also some references to Postmodernism. 

First of all, it is important to underline that the scene consists of an exchange of dialogue or rather better in a monologue of Connell. The male character is stating that there people do not take him into account because he comes from a family that is not wealthy as Marianne’s one. In doing so, Connell used the expedient of irony that Marianne does not understand and consequently she does not provide an answer but at the same time she conveys her emotions through her body language. The scene considered is relevant because it shows the different attitude of Connell when he feels at ease and when he feels embarrassed.  Firstly he feels himself at ease with Marianne and as a result he opens up with her about his worries using an ironic tone, later he perceives to have overstated talking indirectly about her family condition because Marianne does not provide any answer and as a regret he takes it lightly.  Therefore, the intelligent reader can identify some characteristics typical of Postmodernism; for example: irony and the extreme self reflexivity.