Top 3 Normal People quotes
“If she wanted, she could make a big show of saying hello to Connell in school. See you this afternoon, she could say, in front of everyone. Undoubtedly it would put him in an awkward position, which is the kind of thing she usually seems to enjoy. But she has never done it.”
Marianne
Marianne’s clandestine bond with Connell, born from their mothers’ professional relationship, is a paradox of power dynamics. Despite her social insignificance, she wields influence over Connell’s popularity, choosing silence to nurture their covert relationship.
“She comes to sit down with him and he touches her cheek. He has a terrible sense all of a sudden that he could hit her face, very hard even, and she would just sit there and let him. The idea frightens him so badly that he pulls his chair back and stands up.”
Connell
Connell’s profound bond with Marianne, intensified by Peggy’s proposition, triggers a realization of his power over Marianne’s self-sacrificing love. This epiphany, unsettling and overwhelming, foreshadows Marianne’s future masochistic tendencies.
“You should go, she says. I’ll always be here. You know that.”
Marianne
The novel’s conclusion, from Marianne’s perspective, underscores their mutual growth. Their relationship, born in adolescence, has weathered significant milestones. Connell’s support has helped Marianne overcome her past, while Marianne’s faith in Connell has empowered him to pursue his dreams, affirming her unwavering devotion.
