p. 173: “I guess we’re from very different background, class-wise.

I don’t think about it much, she said. Quickly she added: 

Sorry, that’s an ignorant thing to say. Maybe I should think about it more.

You don’t consider me your working-class friend?

She gave a smile that was more like a grimace and said:  [...]

COMMENT: the first sentence reported is said by Connell during a conversation with Marianne about the scholarship. The verb “guess” suggests a confirmation, indeed, as in the rest of the novel, Connell is always looking for Marianne’s confirmation because he is insecure and she is the only point of reference he has. Going on, the next sentence he says has an ironic tone maybe because Connell wants to play down the situation created since he does not want to speak about his economic conditions. Marianne reacts with a smile, that was more like a grimace. So, Connell decides to use the expedient of irony, which is typical of Postmodernism.

p. 174: “I just feel weird about all this, he said. I feel weird wearing black tie and saying things in Latin. You know at the dinner last night, those people serving us, they were students. They’re working to put themselves through college while we sit there eating the free food they put in front of us. Is that not horrible?

COMMENT: after making some considerations aloud, with the last question, Connell wants to know Marianne’s opinion about the students working to make money. It means he is curious about her thoughts and interested in her way of thinking. In addition, he is searching for her approval, because he wants her to have the same thoughts of him about the situation. His considerations underlines two Postmodernist features: the breakdown between low and high cultural forms, since in the past teenagers were used to wear a school uniform and say things in Latin, while Connell feels outdated doing it and the self-reflexivity because he is revealing his thoughts to Marianne, expressing his personal point of view and focusing on himself.

p. 175: “I don't know. I should have known coming to Trinity that it would be like this. I’m just looking at all this scholarship stuff thinking, Jesus, what would other people in school say?”

COMMENT: here, the first sentence puts into focus Connell’s inability to have an opinion about the situation. After that, he makes considerations aloud and at least he asks Marianne what she thinks. In particular, the last question underlines his fear of other people’s judgement since he asks her explicitly about other people’s thoughts.

p. 178: “Connell turns the handle and comes inside. Alright? he says.”

COMMENT: by saying “Alright?” he wants to make himself sure everything is ok. Therefore, this underlines his preoccupation and his sense of protection towards Marianne.

p. 178: “Connell steps in between them, glass crunches under his shoe, and he grabs Marianne by her upper arms. [...] Come here, he says, Marianne.”

COMMENT: from the action of grabbing Mariane by her upper arms and the words “Come here”, the intelligent reader can understand Connell wants to reassure her and make her feel protected when she argues with Jamie. Indeed, he is very protective over Marianne because she is one of the most relevant people in his life and the only point of reference, and therefore he instinctively wants to do everything in order to make her feel good in each situation.

p. 179: “Marianne leans against a slim silver tree trunk and Connell puts his arms around her.”

p. 181: “Lots of people love you, Marianne. Okay? Your family and friends love you.”

COMMENT: both the extracts underline Connell’s willing to reassure Marianne, to protect her, to show her that he cares about her and to make her feel loved by hugging her in the first extract and by saying that people love her in the second one.

p. 180: “Can I stay in your room tonight? she says. I’ll sleep on the floor.

The bed is massive, he says, don’t worry about it.”

COMMENT: Connell is saying implicitly she can sleep with him in the same bed, always giving her a sense of protection. It underlines another time his willing to do anything to make her feel at ease and his need to have Marianne’s presence in his life.

p. 181: “After a time he hears her say something he can’t make out. I didn’t hear that, he says.”

p. 182: “What did she say that for? he says. [...] What did she say? he asks. As in, how did she react?

COMMENT: at page 181, since he could not hear her, he is implicitly telling Marianne to repeat what she said, asking for clarifications and explanations. On the other side, at page 182, he is explicitly asking her explanations about what happened. Therefore, in both the extracts he is showing his curiosity and his preoccupation about what she says.

p. 183: “Finally he puts his face in his hands. His fingers feel cold and clammy on his eyelids and there are tears in his eyes. [...] Come here, he says. And she comes to him. He feels terribly ashamed and confused. They lie face-to-face and he puts his arms around her body. In her ear he says: I’m sorry, okay? She holds onto him tightly, her arms winding around him, and he kisses her forehead.”

COMMENT: here, an additional time the sense of protection and the willing to comfort Marianne come into surface, highlighted by his words (come here) and his actions (he puts his arms around her and kisses her forehead). In particular, his attitude underlines also his need to have a physical contact with her. In addition, in the present extract he feels confused and ashamed for what Marianne said about her domestic violence.