What George concludes is that she doesn’t want to mix him with her friends, otherwise, they will notice he is gay and she doesn’t want that. The neighbour says that that would be impossible because she’s expecting guests. George declines saying that he already made plans and suggests if they can meet the next day. One very specific scene about this topic is when a neighbour invites George to her house that same day in the afternoon. The society is still no prepared to open up to George and Jim. The story is set during the Cold War in 1962 and is threatening everyone. This is he’s way of grieving, a very lonely way I would say.Īlso, I believe that the fact of he being gay doesn’t help in this situation. So, he closes himself in pain and pretend that Jim is still alive but they are not living together anymore. He receives a call from Jim’s cousin about the funeral but George feels that he wouldn’t be welcome. The way that George is told about Jim’s death can be the beginning of this isolation. He decided to suffer in silence and alone. Jim died recently, he is still suffering and, even worst, he decided not to tell anyone about it. In other words, he has to dress and behave like “George” as soon as he exits his house. With the skill of a veteran he rapidly puts on the psychological makeup for this role he must play” (). A few pages after, it says: “So now he consciously applies himself to thinking their thoughts getting into their mood. He is awaking up and he doesn’t feel like himself. The first pages of the book can explain the loneliness of George. The world of George is shown through his eyes but at the same time he comments on what he is seeing. It seems like a conversation between thoughts of various minds.
The way the narration is putting in motion is absolutely amazing. The narration is focused, obviously, in George but other characters have space as well, especially when they are in contact with George. The narrator, in third person, knows everything about everyone. The first impression of the narration is about of how it is told. The death in the end is a surprise, something that anyone was expecting, for instance, like Jim’s death.īut before we get to the end, I would like to highlight some topics that could explain the book. You might get the idea that George is given up life but he is not. The reader follow George during his day, since the moment he is awaking up until the end of the day that coincides with his death. A Single Man tells the story of a day in George’s life: a gay man who lost his lover Jim and struggles with his pain throughout one day.
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