whatever else you might say about Ralph Lanyon he is THERE and READY
//cackles
It's been a while since I reread the whole book, rather than just favourite bits, but I do think Renault is riffing on the themes of so-called Platonic love with Laurie and Andrew and it's really important that Ralph and Laurie can be physically together and out to each other. But then again Renault also loves bittersweet endings and angst even in her OTP portrayals, so I think you're right that Laurie also really loses something with Andrew and what he has with Ralph is somewhat compromised and troubled.
I felt like everyone else was very well-drawn but I couldn't get a handle on Andrew at all. He seems either absolutely naive or really deliberately ignoring every possible signal from Laurie, or maybe both. I'm not sure whether that's Renault being Renault or if I'm not understanding a certain kind of would-be-closeted-if-he-thought-about-it psychology in that time period. It's kind of an interesting twist on the not-quite triangle in Maurice, although in that book Maurice and Clive do get physical. Is Andrew rabbiting off because he's repulsed, or doesn't know his own sexuality yet, or he's attracted to Laurie? I can't tell. He's just sort of opaque for me.
OTOH I kind of fucking love Ralph and the first time I read the book and realized Laurie JUST BARELY saves him from topping himself I think I actually gasped. Renault does love the angst so I think it's perfectly possible Ralph could realize Laurie read the note and think Laurie stayed out of pity, but no Laurie really does love him! but they don't communicate about it until they're old and grey and full of sleep, or something.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-10-18 06:13 pm (UTC)//cackles
It's been a while since I reread the whole book, rather than just favourite bits, but I do think Renault is riffing on the themes of so-called Platonic love with Laurie and Andrew and it's really important that Ralph and Laurie can be physically together and out to each other. But then again Renault also loves bittersweet endings and angst even in her OTP portrayals, so I think you're right that Laurie also really loses something with Andrew and what he has with Ralph is somewhat compromised and troubled.
I felt like everyone else was very well-drawn but I couldn't get a handle on Andrew at all. He seems either absolutely naive or really deliberately ignoring every possible signal from Laurie, or maybe both. I'm not sure whether that's Renault being Renault or if I'm not understanding a certain kind of would-be-closeted-if-he-thought-about-it psychology in that time period. It's kind of an interesting twist on the not-quite triangle in Maurice, although in that book Maurice and Clive do get physical. Is Andrew rabbiting off because he's repulsed, or doesn't know his own sexuality yet, or he's attracted to Laurie? I can't tell. He's just sort of opaque for me.
OTOH I kind of fucking love Ralph and the first time I read the book and realized Laurie JUST BARELY saves him from topping himself I think I actually gasped. Renault does love the angst so I think it's perfectly possible Ralph could realize Laurie read the note and think Laurie stayed out of pity, but no Laurie really does love him! but they don't communicate about it until they're old and grey and full of sleep, or something.