Normal People Part 1
January 2011
Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan are high school students who reside in Carricklea, a small fictional village in Ireland. They are in the same year and are the foremost students in their year. Mariann comes from a rich family but she lost her father at thirteen, while Connell is the son of a single mother, Lorraine, who also happens to be the cleaner at Marianne’s house. Connell goes over to pick up Lorraine from Marianne’s house, but since his mother is busy with her work, Marianne shows him into the house. Marianne initiates a conversation with Connell, and he participates rather reluctantly. Despite being the most intelligent girl in school, Marianne’s disdainful and aloof attitude towards others has made her an outcast. Connell is reserved and often struggles with expressing himself, but he is one of the most popular students in the school. The conversation turns toward their economic teacher since Connell is uncomfortable with her somewhat flirtatious advances. Marianne offers to report the teacher’s conduct anonymously, but Connell refuses her offer.
Connell and Marianne have often interacted at Marianne’s house but they maintain a facade of indifference at school. This is because Connell wants to avoid the stigma of associating with an outcast like Marianne. But in private, their interactions are filled with Marianne’s playful teasing and Connell’s awkward responses. He confides in her because he knows she won’t betray his trust. Towards the end of their conversation, Marianne confesses that she likes Connell, but before he can respond, Lorraine returns. He says goodbye to Marianne and leaves her mansion with his mother.
Three Weeks Later (Feb 2011)
Marianne, an avid reader, dislikes school and its rigid rules, including compulsory attendance at sports events. During a recent soccer match featuring Connell, she found herself fantasizing about watching him make love to someone else. She recognizes that such thoughts mark her as different from her peers, but she isn’t affected by them. Since the day of her confession to Connell about her true feelings for him, he has started visiting the house more often and spending more time talking to her. His presence always leaves her feeling invigorated yet exhausted. After a few days, Connell brings up her feelings, and she clarifies that she likes him more than a friend. He leans in and they share their first kiss. Marianne tells him that it was the first time she had kissed anyone. On another visit, Connell follows Marianne to her room, and they begin to kiss. They nearly begin to undress one another, but Connell stops it from going any further.
On an evening in February, Marianne is texting Connell and planning to go over to his house for the first time. Just as she is about to leave, she is accosted by her younger brother, Alan. He questions her violently about where she is going, and she tries to get away from him. He grabs her arm painfully and attempts to stop her but she manages to free herself. She goes over to Connell’s house and he lets her in while ensuring no one has seen her come into his house.
One Month Later (March 2011)
Connell, while lying next to a naked Marianne, is working on his college applications. He initially planned to study Law in Galway, but Marianne told him that he should study English since reading was the only thing that ever brought him any kind of happiness. He can’t envision himself as a lawyer either. Marianne, who plans to study History and Politics at Trinity College in Dublin, encourages him to pursue English there. Connell is drawn to Marianne in a way he doesn’t fully understand. Despite her lack of popularity at school and average appearance, he finds her intriguing. He sees her living a liberated life, while he feels confined. Connell believed studying Law in Galway would allow him to maintain his current life since most of his friends would be attending the same institute for higher education. On the other hand, studying English in Dublin would sever his social ties in Carricklea, and he would be going down a path that might be frowned upon by his school peers. He feels like he’s living a double life and struggles to reconcile the two. Eventually, lying next to Marianne, he chooses to study English at Trinity, hoping to maintain a balance between his secret life with Marianne and his school life.
Analysis
These initial chapters delve into the delicate nature of self-esteem. Throughout their final school year, Marianne’s intelligence is her only social asset. She uses it as a defense and projects an air of confident indifference. However, as she starts to harbor intimate feelings for Connell, she feels her thoughts are odd. Her readiness to keep their friendship and growing romantic relationship hidden reveals a lack of self-worth, suggesting she’s internalized the harsh words of her classmates. Connell’s insistence on secrecy reflects his shaky self-esteem. He sees his attraction to Marianne as abnormal. While their connection brings him unexpected joys, he often finds their emotional bond distressing and believes revealing their relationship would lead to a loss of self.
The theme of freedom versus restriction is also prominent in these chapters. Marianne observes her peers, including Connell, comfortably navigating a world she finds stifling. Connell, on the other hand, sees Marianne’s defiance of social norms as a sign of her freedom, while he feels confined by them. In reality, Marianne feels trapped in a single identity she can’t alter, attributing any changes in her behavior around Connell to their shared bond rather than her multifaceted nature. Connell, in concealing and fostering his relationship with Marianne, feels caught between two identities and dreads the inevitable decision to choose one over the other. As they gear up for college, they both relish the privacy of their relationship, viewing it as a haven for individual growth.
