Notes of December 4th

NORMAL PEOPLE: SECTION "FOUR MONTHS LATER " (JULY 2014)

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the function of the section in the economy of the novel?
2. What is the main theme or what are the main themes?
3. What do you understand more about the two protagonists?
4. What stylistic devices does the narrator exploit?

SECTION: JULY 2014 is one of the latest and it is very important in the economy of the novel

NARRATOR: 3^rd person one, use of telling and showing

SETTING: Connell’s bedroom in one of the days of July 2014

TIME OF THE DAY: afternoon and evening

CHARACTERS: Connell and Marianne

WHAT IS HAPPENING: Connell is watching a football match on TV (Netherland vs. Costa Rica), while Marianne is bored and doing nothing

The section is a very important part of the novel because Connell and Marianne are trying to make a balance of their relationship and that is why they refer to the beginning. So, they reconsider the first steps of their relationship when they were in High School and when they felt better.

The narrator sets the section inside Connell’s bedroom. The choice is not casual because the setting helps them to reconsider the past time of their relationship, since it is an inner one, which usually deals with something intimate and personal. Therefore, since the two characters are inside Connell’s room, the indoor place helps them making considerations of their relationship, which is something intimate and personal. Connell and Marianne are talking about their relationship, how it is going on, making a comparison between how they felt in the past and how they feel now

It is interesting notice how the narrator deals with different gender behaviours. Indeed, the technique of the shift of point of view helps the reader to highlight different behaviours between Connell and Marianne.

Connell is absorbed by the match and therefore does not look at Marianne, who is bored of the football match on TV. So, if she is bored, why didn’t she go back home? Because he is looking for Connell’s attention. It is a fault because she seems to be dependent on Connell’s impressions and feelings.

Marianne did not express explicitly her boredom, but Connell understand it, and, in the end, he puts off the TV. 

Marianne is investigation on why things goes that way instead of another. She shows her jealousy and she wants to understand If Connell returns the same feelings. At first sight, Connell seems not to be annoyed at Marianne’s questions.

At page 225:

- “He looks back at the screen… each time she hears it”: technique of telling. Marianne is concentrated in Connell’s face;

- “His appearance is like a favourite piece of music to her, sounding a little different every time she hears at it.”: simile. It makes us understand how much she was still interested in him.