Normal People Part 2

 

Six Weeks Later (April 2011)

Marianne, funnily, is on the committee for the annual graduation dance, leading her to attend a fundraiser at a nightclub where Connell is also present. Rachel Moran, the popular girl in charge of the fundraiser, implies a special bond with Connell, but unbeknownst to her Connell and Marianne have grown much closer. During a recent visit to an abandoned housing estate, Marianne asked him why he did not stop his friend, Rob, from bullying her. Connell is apologetic, and he convinces her that his feelings for her go beyond the physical. Marianne nearly asked him to make love to her there in the dirty and abandoned house, but they just went back to his house instead.

At the club, Marianne, dressed in a tight black dress, arrives before Connell, who comes with his friends Rob and Eric. Eric, who once insulted Marianne’s appearance, now compliments her. Unaccustomed to alcohol, Marianne becomes slightly intoxicated. Eric’s friend begins to touch her inappropriately, and she struggles to extricate herself. Eric and Rachel laugh while Marianne runs away to hide in another room with tears streaming down her face. Connell, Rachel, Eric, and one of the girls who had been nice to Marianne followed her to the room. Rachel is jealous of the attention that Marianne has been getting and continues to make snide remarks, but Connell angrily tells her to leave them alone. He takes care of Marianne, and instead of taking her to her house, he takes her to his house. In Connell’s room, Marianne shares her fear of physical assault and reveals that her father had been physically abusive with her mother, and her. Connell is shocked by the revelation, he comforts her and hugs her protectively. He tells her that she is beautiful and that he loves her. This moment, in Marianne’s mind, signifies the beginning of her new life, a sentiment she holds onto for many years to come.

Two Days Later (April 2011)

In the following days, Connell begins to regret and question his confession of love to Marianne. They spent the night together, and the next morning, his mother, Lorraine, ran into Marianne as she was leaving the house. Lorraine inquired about their relationship in a playful and joking manner, indicating that she had been suspicious of their relationship for a while. Connell avoids giving her a clear answer, but Lorraine understands that Connell is afraid of being judged by his peers at school. At school, when his friends asked if he had been intimate with Marianne, he denied it. They jokingly suggest that he invite Marianne to the dance. Remembering Marianne’s compliment about him being nice makes him feel sick.

Connell and Lorraine visit his hospitalized grandmother. Connell knows that his grandmother isn’t quite very fond of him, since his mother had him when he was just seventeen. Having Connell changed his mother’s life quite drastically, and she never received any help from his father Connell even learned who his father was or what he was called. On the way home, Connell reveals to Lorraine that he invited Rachel to the dance, not Marianne. Lorraine is deeply upset by Connell’s behavior towards Marianne and goes so far as to suggest that he simply used Marianne for sex. She forces Connell to stop the car and get out in the rain so that she can walk home because she is afraid that she might say something that she might come to regret.

Four Months Later (August 2011)

After Connell informs Marianne that he’s taking Rachel to the dance, Marianne stops attending school regularly and only shows up for exams. Her mother is upset with her, but Lorraine, offers quiet support, telling Marianne that Connell doesn’t deserve her. Marianne isn’t particularly angry with Connell, even though she believes he finds her to be unattractive and he was only with her for their sexual relationship. After the exams are over, she overhears Alan talking to friends from the school while she sunbathes in her yard. He tells her that Connell got the highest marks in his year, while she was about ten marks behind him. To embarrass Marianne, Alan speaks with Connell on the phone and offers him a chance to speak with her. Alan is surprised when Connell agrees, but he becomes livid when Marianne refuses the call. Marianne is indifferent, as she plans to start a new life away from Alan and her mother, who overlooks Alan’s abusive behavior.

Three Months Later (November 2011)

After Marianne left school in April, Connell fell into a state of depression. He was filled with guilt over his treatment of her, but she ignored his attempts to reach out. His mother, Lorraine, believed his guilt was justified, but also sympathized with him. Connell tried to distract himself with alcohol and casual relationships, including one with Rachel but found no joy in them. He later discovered that his friends were aware of his relationship with Marianne and were indifferent about it, making him realize he had hurt Marianne and himself for no reason.

Later, at Trinity, Connell is invited to a party by a classmate, Gareth. To his surprise, Gareth’s girlfriend is Marianne, who is well-liked at the party. Marianne greets Connell warmly and expresses that she misses him. When Connell mentions his past relationship with Rachel, Marianne responds with what seems like genuine sympathy. Their conversation feels reminiscent of old times, discussing topics like Gareth’s conservative political views, and their old relationship. Connell wants to apologize to Marianne for his past actions, but something holds him back.

Three Months Later (February 2012)

Marianne and Connell both attend an overnight party. After getting drunk with her friends Peggy and Joanna, Marianne finds out that the girl Connell has been seeing isn’t at the party. She approaches Connell, kisses him, and proposes intimacy, but he respectfully declines. The next morning, Marianne apologizes for her actions, and Connell tells her to dismiss it. By this time, Connell had become known among Marianne’s friends. While he’s popular with the women, the men find him dull. They’re taken aback when Marianne claims Connell is more intelligent than she is.

After Connell impressively wins a pool game, they return to Marianne’s apartment. Connell finally apologizes for his past behavior, revealing that their secret relationship was known by all of his friends and nobody cared. They make love twice and then fall asleep.

Analysis

In the chapters set in April 2011, Connell and Marianne’s relationship is jeopardized by their emotional naivety and poor communication. Connell keeps his personal life private, yet is surprised when Marianne doesn’t fully understand him. He’s slow to answer her casual questions about his love life, only clarifying that he isn’t seeing other girls. This leaves Marianne with the task of coaxing out his true feelings. Their deep connection and intimacy confuse Connell. When Marianne is attacked at a fundraiser, his emotional inexperience leads him to confess his love for her. This moment, while significant for a vulnerable Marianne, becomes a source of guilt and fear for Connell, who struggles to fulfill the promises implied by his declaration of love.

The chapters also highlight the socioeconomic tension between the Sheridans and Waldron. In Carricklea, reputation is tied to wealth. Despite Connell’s working-class background and his family’s perceived shortcomings, he’s seen as an exemplary teenager. His economic status and humble upbringing fuel his desire to fit in and maintain his social standing. There are instances where Connell feels like an outsider due to his lesser means. Marianne feels awkward when Connell remarks on the size of an empty house compared to his own modest home. At a fundraiser, Connell’s casual attire contrasts with his classmates’ formal wear. Lorraine’s confusion about why Connell and Marianne aren’t a couple leads her to suggest that Marianne’s mother might think Connell isn’t good enough. This insinuation annoys Connell, causing him to question Marianne’s sincerity and likely influencing his decision to take Rachel to the Debs. His perceived notion of the Sheridans’ socioeconomic prejudice causes his pride to overshadow his need for a connection with Marianne.