Analyzing and Connecting

        

   Anagrams by Lorrie Moore is a very interesting novel that stresses the struggles of the daily life of a man and a woman, who are constantly falling in and out of love. The woman, who's name is Benna, has a personality that can be similar to a handful of other people's personalities, including mine. Benna is a very caring,but slightly judgmental person, who isn't very good at communicating her feelings toward other people. Benna can also be insecure from time to time when she tries to be "good enough" for Gerard. An example of one of Benna's most insecure moments is,"I was not large enough for Gerard. I was small, lumpy, anchored with worry, imploded. He didn't want me, he wanted Macy's; like Aeneas or Ulysses, he wanted the anonymity and freedom to wander purchaseless from island to island." Benna feels as if she is not good enough to be the person that makes Gerard want to settle down. Not only that, but Benna fails to tell Gerard these feelings, showing she isn't very good at communicating her feelings toward other people. I am very similar to Benna in some ways, because like her, I occasionally fail to express my feelings to others. I am also very caring, and I hate to admit it, but slightly judgmental.

           

          Anagrams can also connect to the daily problems which are present in society today. Anagrams is about a man and a woman who have a relationship that seems to constantly ebb and flow. At one point in the novel, Gerard may love Benna, but Benna doesn't feel the same, or Benna may not love Gerard , but Gerard may not feel the same, or maybe the both love each other, but neither of them know of the other's feelings. A point in the novel where Gerard loves Benna, but she doesn't feel the same way is ," "Look. I'm going through life alone now," she said.  "I can't think of men or marriage or children. I work to hard." A point in the novel when Benna loves Gerard, but Gerard doesn't feel the same is," [Gerard is talking] "You make me feel like I'm in a tiny store and all I want to do is relax, look, and enjoy, but because I'm the only potential customer there, you keep coming over and pressuring me." This fluctuating relationship is very similar to daily problems present in society today, because there are plenty of situations where two people's relationship is complicated and fluctuates, just like Gerard's and Benna's.