JANUARY 2011 (Benincasa Federica)

p.2: " he presses his hands down slightly further into his pockets, as if trying to store his entire body in his pocket all at one"

COMMENT: Connell's action makes the reader understand that he uses body language to communicate his feelings. He doesn't feel at his ease and he searches for  protection inside his pockets.

p.3: "He dreads being left alone with her like this, but also find himself fantasising about things he could say to impress her"

COMMENT: Connell shows his insecurity and he depends on Marianne's judgment. He wants to be appreciated from her and he tries to show the best part of himself.

p.3-4: "God, you're not having an affair with her, are you? "

"Obviously not. Do you think it's funny joking about that?"

COMMENT: Connell doesn't know if he is attracted to miss Neary. This is one of his weak point and Marianne's question annoys him.  He's afraid that Marianne may doubt  him.

p.5: "I mean, you don't think I'm playing into it when she acts like that, do you?"

COMMENT: Connell needs to be reassured by Marianne because he is afraid others people may make fun of him. 

p.5:"Why does everyone else think I fancy her, then?"

COMMENT: Connell wants hear that Marianne realized he isn't like others think but she knows his real personality.

p.6-7:"When he talks to Marianne he has a sense of total privacy between them. He could tell her anything about himself, even weird things, and she would never repeat them, he knows that. Being alone with her is like opening a door away from normal life and then closing it behind him"

COMMENT: Connell considers Marianne a safe place where he can be himself. He is used to pretending with his schoolmates to not ruin his reputation. Marianne hasn't friends and Connell knows his secrets are safe.

p.8:"He turns to look over his shoulder but finds he cannot actually look Marianne in the eye, so he addresses himself to the floor instead"

COMMENT: Connell is so influenced by the presence of his mother Lorainne that he can't look Marianne in the eye. He has established a intimate relationship  with Marianne who doesn't share it with anyone.

FEBRUARY 2011 (Benincasa Federica)

p.13: "About feeling a bit imprisoned in the school, I do see that”

COMMENT: Connell doesn't share the Marianne's overstate reaction to Mr Kerrigan's reproach but he understands Marianne's condition. He considers the school a prison because he lives the same situation: he feels trapped by the judgment of others.

p.13-14: "You act different in class, you're not really like that"

COMMENT: Connell underlines that Marianne has different personalities depending on the context and place where she is. In this way Connell makes Marianne understand that he is aware of their special relationship that Marianne has not established with anyone.

p.15: "You know you were saying the other day that you like me, he said. In the kitchen you said it, when we were talking about school."

"Yeah."

"Did you mean like as a friend, or what?"

COMMENT: Connell wants to be reassured about Marianne's feelings.

p.17: "I'm kind of confused about what I feel, he added. I think it would be awkward in school if anything happened with us"

COMMENT: Connell is full of insecurities and he wants to be sure that Marianne wouldn't tell anything about them at school. 

p.18: "Boldly she asked if he was going to kiss her again. He said: what do you think?"

COMMENT: Connell wants always know what is the Marianne's point of view because, in this way, he understands her intentions and he doesn't risk to wrong.