Discuss the author's depiction of the love of Carlo for Francesco

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Name: Reena Harsiani English Literature   Tuition Centre

Discuss the author’s depiction of the love of Carlo for Francesco

Carlo finds his ideal of homosexual love described in Plato’s ‘Symposium’, which is ironic to Carlo as he says, because he is invading Greece, Plato’s homeland, at the time. This fact also reminds us of the way homosexuality can be seen differently in different times and places. In ancient Greece males married females but had male lovers too. ‘The Symposium’ by Plato states that “an army should be made up of lovers and their loves” in order to make them fight more effectively. Carlo reveals that “[he] would be ennobled by this love” this shows that ironically Carlo’s love for Francesco is destined to be ‘Platonic’ as he is inexperienced and physically unrealised and that he believes in the fact that “love alone” will be enough to give him the encouragement to fight. But, Carlo also shows that his great endurance for gaining “esteem and honour” is a “wild idea, romantic and implausible,” however, “it worked.” It also shown that his great need for love and becoming “an inspired hero” led to nothing but “incalculable grief.” This hints to the reader to anticipate tragedy.

Carlo’s attention to Francesco is also based upon another ‘Platonic’ idea, the attraction of the lover to someone who complements, makes up for some kind of lack in oneself. Carlo makes many comparisons between himself and Francesco mainly in chapter 6. Carlo says, “[Francesco’s] skin was darker than [his],” this makes Francesco sound more physically attractive than Carlo. Francesco has a muscular body, which only “fit individuals” have whereas Carlo does not have such a figure. Francesco has this “casual strength” but Carlo appears to want to have this strength but never truly achieves physical strength. However, Carlo does gain a heroic image by the end of the war and I feel that Carlo is content with this. Francesco says everything that is on his mind for example, when (rivolta)  

       

De Bernières describes the relationship using very physical and romantic language. This helps the reader to understand the nature of Carlo’s love for Francesco. Carlo describes Francesco as having, ‘slender spatulate fingers’ this produces a heightened intensified observation and shows a deeper appreciation. It is depicted in very romantic terms and idealised. Francesco’s body is described as having ‘only three hairs in the centre of his chest,’ some readers may find the detailed and explicit description shows that it is based more upon physical attraction rather than genuine love. However, I think that Carlo truly loves Francesco and that Carlo’s description of Francesco’s appearance helps him to show and emphasise his love to the reader and also to accept that his ‘slender spatulate fingers’ will never come in contact with his body no matter how much he wishes for them to be together as a couple. I think that to a certain extent de Bernières makes the reader fancy Francesco too, through his descriptions of Francesco as being an “entirely beautiful boy.” The way in which Francesco is described makes him sound physically perfect and female readers may fancy him. De Bernières also brings up the awareness to male readers that they too may not be 100% heterosexual and therefore may understand Carlo’s love and feelings for Francesco more clearly than a female reader.  

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Carlo tries to explain that his recollections and thoughts about Francesco’s body are not ‘obscene’ and that they are ‘precious, exquisite and pure.’ This shows that Carlo’s love is genuine and not based upon Francesco’s physical characteristics, no matter how much it comes across as being of a physical nature. I think this is de Bernières way of showing the reader that homosexual relationships exist and they too involve physical attraction just as much as heterosexual relationships. This is again shown when Carlo says that they are for the ‘private museum each of us carries in our heads.’ This ...

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