The present essay has the aim to provide the analysis of an extract drawn from the section titled Three Month Later March 2014 of the novel Normal People by Sally Rooney.

The beginning of this chapter is set in a psychological world attended by Connell. He might decide to go there for two reasons: firstly, he feels depressed and secondly because Niall told him to go since the service is free it is worth to be experienced.

The narrative strategy used is the third person narrator who speaks from Connell’s point of view. Since the scene is essentially descriptive the reader can think that the objective of the writer is to recreate the scene. Moreover, the description causes a break in narration. The detailed description of the waiting room may make the reader think about Connell’s personality: is his room well organized, tidy, clean? Probably not. In many situations, Connells is very emotionally involved and this brings to the conclusion that he is totally disorganized not only in his space but also in his mind and consequently in his life. He seems looking at the receptionist because he is seeking some help in order to fill out the questionnaire but she does not give any attention to him 

The sentence “its syntax seems to have originated inside him” alludes to a close and intimate relationship with literature and language that is confirmed by the fact that he is a student of languages. 

Finally, the sentence “ Life is the thing you bring with you inside your own head” highlights the new concept of time developed during the Modern Age: each individual is a sum of his past experiences and his future expectations.

Concluding, it can be said that Rooney’s aim in this chapter is to analyse Connell’s unconsciousness, in particular to highlight his selfishness as a way to survive to his malaise.