The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides is a captivating novel that expertly explores the traditional idea of the 'marriage plot' in a modern context. This novel details the plight of Madeleine Hanna and her life of love, friendship, and disappointments, as she leaves college and navigates her way through early adulthood.
The novel is set in the early 1980s at Brown University, a prestigious liberal arts school in Providence, Rhode Island. The story primarily follows Madeleine, a literature major and college senior, as she experiences a love triangle with two friends: Leonard Bankhead, an eccentric religious studies student and Mitchell Grammaticus, a doctoral student in religious studies. Through it all, Madeleine is forced to confront many of the realities of life and come to terms with the love she feels for both Leonard and Mitchell.
Madeleine is from a wealthy, established family, so much of her life is focused on becoming an ideal version of herself. Despite this pressure, she is an independent and curious woman, drawn to the idea of 'the marriage plot', a concept of courtship and marriage which was popular in Classical literature like Jane Austen's novels.
Madeleine is a strong and determined character who, despite having to navigate traditional roles of the daughter of a prominent family, still manages to make her own decisions and form her own opinions. Thinking she knows what she wants, Madeleine is compelled by both Mitchell and Leonard.
Leonard is more of an aloof person, not wanting to be tied down and preferring to live in the moment. He suffers from manic depression and is averse to traditional relationships and expectations. On the other hand, Mitchell is the romantic lead, wanting to commit and settle down. He falls for Madeleine quickly, even though he has his own issues such as his unresolved feelings for his ex-fiancée.
As the novel progresses, the triangle between Madeleine, Leonard, and Mitchell becomes increasingly complex. In the end, all three must come to terms with the fact that the relationships between them cannot be neatly tied up with a ‘happily ever after’.
The Marriage Plot is a moving and thoughtful novel that examines the complexities of relationships in a contemporary setting. The novel is masterfully written and showcases the skill of Jeffrey Eugenides as a writer. The characters are beautifully crafted, and the narrative is both witty and sensitive.
At its core, The Marriage Plot is a novel about love, but it is also the story of how a young woman finds her own strength and independence. In the end, Madeleine is forced to find her own way through life and accepts that it won’t always conform to the traditional idea of the marriage plot. This is a moving and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
