As the plot of the book keeps progressing there are many tenentions in the relationship of the characters. Teresa and Paul are now fully committed to each other as a couple and a few months wiz by with they are emaculated in love for one another. However, Paul continuasly begins to get sick of Terea talking about her abusive exhusband. He also begins to secretly fall for Terea's friend Elinor, but with mixed emotions decides that Tereasa is the right girl for him. One night Treasa's exhussband, Haliday, shows up drunk and raging at a spot where Paul his. Also quite tipsy himself the two begin to fight. Haliday is much stronger and physically tougher then Paul and Paul is severaly injured. The author states, "Huddled against the call he felt Haliday's boot smash into his ribs" (86). Paul ends up with severe cuts and broken ribs. This quote reveals how tough and menecing Haliday is, that he can beat up Paul who is a very strong and albe man. Not only does this fight injur Paul phyiscally but it also tears him and Tersea appart. She decides suddenly to leave town. She will not have him come with her, or let Paul have any say in the matter. Tereasa is to frightened for herself to be with Paul anymore. She also belives that Paul is truely in love with Elinor and when he states that he loves her she simlpy replies, "You don't love me, if you love anybody, you love Elinor, and you only love her because she won't have you" (96). Tereas's observant and truthful observation leads to major distance between the two. Even after long months of being together they don't even end up corresponding ever again.
The book moves ahead and show the deep love that Paul has been hiding for Elinor. Infact Elinor has been feeling that exact same way as well. They fall deeply into love and spend many months together in happiness. However, the war is approaching and Paul feels as though he is letting down, his family, and his country if he does not help. He inlistes in medical school and becomes a doctor. Eventually during the war he is moved to a hospital to help treat all the wounded and dieing soilders. The relationship between Paul and Elinor only seem to grow from this however. They frequently write letters to eachother. Paul rights about the war, and the vitiems he treats, and Elinor rights about Slade, the school they both use to attend and her troube with her family. The war continues to rage and there are many gory and unwanted things that our character's are exposed to. Twards the end of the book Elinor and Paul are writing less and less because of the tragities that have been occuring. Elinor writes to Paul saying, "Write soon, This war destroys so much, don't let it destroy us as well" (283). Elinor's ever lasting love for Paul gives us hope there can still happiness in the midst of sad times. It's seems as though she is willng to endure anything for thier love. A theme that seems ever persistant in the book. He comes back from the war and Elinor shows this love by asking him to marry her. She say's, "Darlin Paul, please say you'll be mine"(307). He reply's "I'm your's forever" (307). This yet again reveals the true love they have for eachother, and the many obsatcules they have endured to get to this love. The book ends vaugly with the un assurance that both will live together happily but it truley fallows the theme of true love can over come any obstacles.
1 comment:
It is interesting to hear that Teresa was able to tell that Paul was in love with Elinor. I think that this just goes to show that the two (Paul and Elinor) were meant to be together, because obviously Paul could not hide his love for Elinor from Teresa.
Post a Comment