The unorthodox structure of Zadie Smith’s NW makes it difficult to sift through
and pick out the important details of each character, but one dimension that characters can be clearly evaluated on is their approach to
relationships.
In the beginning of the novel, readers are introduced to
Leah and her boyfriend Michel. Their relationship is characterized by the
contrasting mindsets of each person. Michel is “[a]lways moving forward” and
thinking of the future (32). Meanwhile Leah refuses to commit to starting a
family with Michel because of her fear of moving forward. She hopes to remain
in a young mental state and having kids would expedite her mental age (27). Her
efforts to make sure they do not have kids are also fueled by her desire to keep
the relationship between just her and Michel (107). When I contemplate how Leah
arrived at this mindset, it seems logical that it
stems from their relationship being founded in a strong physical sense more
than anything else. Before they even knew each other’s surnames they had sex
(26). While they may have developed an emotional relationship afterwards, I
believe that the fact their relationship began primarily on physical terms
rather than emotional is why Leah can’t move forward with Michel. She was
attracted to the immediate thought of him, not the long term thought of a
family with him.
Felix is also a character with relationships that vary based
on their emotional and physical dependence. Readers are given the impression
that he is on a mission to refurbish an old car as a gift for a girl named
Grace that he is seeing (155). After he purchases the car he goes to visit a
previous acquaintance named Annie (160). Although he visits Annie to tell her
things with Grace are getting serious and that he is moving on, he is unable to
resist his immediate desire for Annie and has sex with her (182).
While Leah is focused on remaining in the past, Felix is
trying to “[m]ove to the next level” (181). While it is difficult to tell what
Smith might be trying to say about relationships as a whole, it is interesting
to look at each one separately. One is based in the physical but held in tact
by fidelity, while the other is based in emotion and lacks faithfulness. Leah
should be susceptible to cheating since she doesn’t value a family. Felix
should stray from cheating since he wants to take things to the next level with
Grace. I am perplexed because it seems to me that it should be the other way
around.
The point Dan made about Zadie Smith’s commentary on relationships and Leah and Felix’s relationships is very intriguing. It is interesting to consider how the people in both of the aforementioned relationships seem to be acting counter-intuitively to what they want out of life. For this reason, it is important to consider how Natalie/Keisha approaches and acts in relationships.
ReplyDeleteBefore she transforms into Natalie, Keisha has a hard time finding herself and understanding her place in this world. She spends of a lot of time considering her life, and in her youth, she does not seem to grasp everything that is going on around her. Keisha starts spending time with Rodney only because her mother suggests it (225). However, it is clear Keisha does not fully grasp the meaning behind this relationship. She just goes through the motions of a seemingly “typical” relationship at that age, by spending a lot of time with Rodney. Furthermore, Keisha is always forcing herself onto Rodney when she wants their relationship to be more physical (227). However when Keisha has become Natalie and she first starts to notice Frank, she continuously resists him. She admires him from afar, “despite their keen awareness of each other” (247). At this point is when I join Dan in confusion about what Smith is saying about relationships. Keisha seems to be perfectly content but oblivious when it comes to Rodney, however as Natalie, she seems to have some sort of strategy with Frank. Since this book has a heavy emphasis on class, I am lead to wonder what point, if any, Smith is making about class since relationship smarts are most likely developed with age.
I think an interesting point that ties your observation together is the role of sex in each of the character’s lives. As you mentioned, Leah and Michel had sex before they knew each other’s names, had sex with other people often and as Leah said, “the physical came first, always” (26) even in marriage. With Felix, the only sexual encounter explicitly described is one of infidelity. In addition, during most of the scene with Annie, Felix confronts situations that might normally be awkward; they’re on a roof in view of other people, Annie is on her period, and afterwards Felix has to make sure Annie won’t be pregnant. Felix also wants to leave as quickly as possible, “afterward he lay on top of her feeling the unpleasant, sweaty closeness” (183).
ReplyDeleteNatalie has her own sexual discovery as a teenager with the vibrator Leah gives her but describes her “adventure into sin” “in this business-like way, as if delegating a task to someone else” (219). When she has sex with Rodney it’s much of the same technical, passionless experience. There is even a rather perverse, but childish, scene with Nathan, Leah and Keisha concerning the female anatomy (203). My question is, is if Smith is implying that sex and sexuality can only complicate relationships, not improve them? I think that viewpoint is extreme, but the point seems to be that careless encounters end badly and can damage relationships.
I think this approach to the novel is interesting. To me, there is difference between each of these relationships. As you mentioned, Michel and Felix both seem to be focused on moving forward, while Leah seems to want to stay still. I find Leah and Michel’s dynamic the most intriguing because they seem to be such opposites. Even Leah herself notes that “they were married before they noticed many small differences in background, aspiration, education, ambition” (27). It is clear that there are more differences than just they’re mind set on families. However it appears that Leah stays in this relationship because she is generally happy. She even points out that “her husband was kinder than any man Leah Hanwell had ever known, aside from her father” (26). I believe the reason that their relationship still works is because of the differences between these two characters. They are able to keep one another in check, in some ways, because of their own aspirations. I think that Leah could potentially help to slow Michel when necessary, and Michel might be able to help Leah move on through her life, as well. While I believe that their goals, or lack thereof, of having a family are important, it is also necessary to recognize that these are not the only aspects of any relationship. While Leah may not feel ready to have a family, this does not mean that she and Michel do not contribute other things to their relationship as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI think this approach to the novel is interesting. To me, there is difference between each of these relationships. As you mentioned, Michel and Felix both seem to be focused on moving forward, while Leah seems to want to stay still. I find Leah and Michel’s dynamic the most intriguing because they seem to be such opposites. Even Leah herself notes that “they were married before they noticed many small differences in background, aspiration, education, ambition” (27). It is clear that there are more differences than just they’re mind set on families. However it appears that Leah stays in this relationship because she is generally happy. She even points out that “her husband was kinder than any man Leah Hanwell had ever known, aside from her father” (26). I believe the reason that their relationship still works is because of the differences between these two characters. They are able to keep one another in check, in some ways, because of their own aspirations. I think that Leah could potentially help to slow Michel when necessary, and Michel might be able to help Leah move on through her life, as well. While I believe that their goals, or lack thereof, of having a family are important, it is also necessary to recognize that these are not the only aspects of any relationship. While Leah may not feel ready to have a family, this does not mean that she and Michel do not contribute other things to their relationship as a whole.
ReplyDeleteIt’s seemingly impossible to identify a “typical or healthy” relationship, especially in the 21st century, as relationships take on an infinite multitude of variety. Some are more focused on physical and sexual aspects, some on romance, some emotional, etc. Smith does a good job of exemplifying the variety found in various relationships. But beyond this, she is also opposing the idea of “happiness being found in another person.”
ReplyDeleteAlthough Leah expresses content with Michel and heir’s relationship on physical level, she is frustrated with Michel’s desire for children. Like Dan said above, she doesn’t want to move forward in life. On the contrary, Felix is ready to move forward in his relationship with Grace. Both Leah and Felix are discontent with their lives; they are striving for happiness but are looking for it in their significant others.
Felix’s situation seems distinctly unique; he attempts to cut things off with his past lover, Annie, because he wants to move forward with Grace, but when he goes over cut ties, he is unable to resist the urge to have sex with her. The sexual and emotional elements of their relationship are evident, but the intentions of Felix and Annie differ. Felix is trying to move forward with his life, telling Annie, “[p[eople can spend their whole lives just dwelling on some of the shit that’s happened. I done that. Now it’s time for the next level, I’m moving up in the game. And I’m ready for it” (181). But Annie has accepted truths she has found self-evident. She claims Felix is trying to move on because he still holds onto the belief that he can find happiness in someone else, saying “[l]ife’s not a video game Felix-there aren’t a certain number of points that send you to the next level. There isn’t actually any next level” (181). Annie has comes to terms with the fact that you can’t believe in the “idea that all your happiness lies in this other person” (187). In nearly all of the relationships in “NW”, people on either end are discontent and looking for their satisfaction. They all hold the false belief that their significant other can fulfill them. This fundamental belief it the downfall of nearly all the relationships, because when the other person is unable to fulfill them, they lose faith in the connection.