Love and Family

Love and family connections are presented as the most central and important sources of fulfillment in Henry’s life, and through these relationships, the novel explores the potential for profound gratification that these relationships can provide. One of the most prominent examples of this dynamic is Henry and Rosalind’s marriage. Their relationship is portrayed as deeply loving and affectionate, and the narrative draws connections between this sense of love and the mutual loyalty that they possess for each other. The narrative comments, for instance, that Henry has never felt tempted to be unfaithful to his wife: “When [Henry] thinks of sex, he thinks of [Rosalind]…In one lifetime it wouldn’t be possible to find another woman with whom he can learn to be so free” (40). Rosalind and Henry are mutually loving and supportive throughout the novel, and the story thereby demonstrates the...