Literature, Romance and Identity in The Lover by Marguerite Duras and “How I Met My Husband” by Alice Munro

Literature, Romance and Identity in The Lover by Marguerite Duras and “How I Met My Husband” by Alice Munro.

Although the settings of the two works are vastly different, The Lover and “How I Met My Husband” are strikingly similar. Both first person narrators recount—in retrospective fashion—a turning point in their lives, and how a romantic relationship proved to be the catalyst for it.

For this paper, describe precisely how each narrator forges her own identity. Based on this analysis, what can you conclude about each character? Of course you should consider their romantic relationship(s), but also the role of their family, their education, and really anything else that you see significant.

This paper will require significant support from the text. In fact, you should anchor each of your paragraphs with a significant quotation or two. Choose these quotations carefully, and give yourself some options early in the drafting stage (that is, highlight more than enough of the text). When you begin analyzing the quotations, you’ll discover connections and ideas that were not apparent at first. You want to be flexible enough to let your essay take shape from this analysis, rather than having a rigid thesis and outline from the beginning, and trying to squeeze everything into it.

Be sure to cite any outside source materials that you consult while writing this paper. You do not need to use outside material, but if you do: cite it in your essay and include a works cited/consulted page.

As always, it is your responsibility to provide original insight. Don’t settle for simple explanations, but rather try and uncover the novel’s complexity. Take risks—just make sure that your work is supported by the text.