"A Journey" By Edna O'Brien
A Journey
The title "A Journey" refers to an adventure. An adventure refers to an event which happens unexpectedly and involves the chance of danger or loss. The "journey" is from London to Scotland, and it involves a man named Boyce and the narrator. The main theme of this story is infidelity. Boyce is a married man whose having an affair with narrator, his wife's name is Madge. Throughout the story, everything seems to be a mystery. The narrator does not know how they started, where they are going, or if they are going anywhere in a relationship. It is a journey of uncertainty.
The whole journey and relationship seems to be some kind of denial and avoidance. Boyce avoids being public with her. They avoid expressing their feelings to each other. The narrator fears not knowing, not knowing where their relationship is going or if there is going to be one. She is subconsciously aware of the fact that he will not be with her. He will not leave his woman to be with her. And yet consciously she hopes that he will. " Will we be together" she said. "It will take time," he said. "How long" she asked. "Months, yearsÂ…" he answered. (O'Brien 371) She is hearing what Boyce is responding but still ignoring every response. He is clearly telling her that there will probably be no other chance. At the end she also doubts herself, "Would he go? Would he come back? What would he do?" (O'Brien 372) She still not wanting to know or does not know where their relationship is at or if it is going anywhere.
Every moment in the affair was just sexual attraction. Both did not know what they felt but kept having a psychical relationship. That is what an affair is all about, only searching for someone to please one's needs. There is rarely real love or future involved.
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