33 pages • 1 hour read
A Single Man: A Novel
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The Past
George’s lifestyle and mind are grounded in the past. To further indicate the past’s significance, George’s use of the word “Past” is always capitalized. His partner Jim, who died in a car accident a few years prior to the novel’s events, is one such influence. He is unable to cope with the loss and is still in the midst of oppressive grief. Everything in George’s house, the supermarket, The Starboard Side bar, and the beach reminds him of Jim. While this saddens him, he cannot and doesn’t want to escape it because he does not want to let go of his former happiness.
George is also consumed by the past in other ways. He regularly visits Doris, an ex-lover of Jim’s who is sick and dying. Though she barely resembles the person she was (and despite George’s resentment of her), he visits her to maintain a connection to Jim. George has a depressed friend named Charlotte who drinks heavily and seemingly lives in the past as well. She cannot move on with her life or let go of those she lost, just like George. Because the two relate to each other, George relies on Charlotte for emotional support.
The past follows George in the formation of his identity and personality. He is in a constant inner battle with his boyhood self, younger self, and current self. He does not want anything to do with the future because the future only brings death and a final departure from Jim. As George goes about his day, he observes the unstoppable changes occurring all around him. He resists most of these changes with fervor. George’s fondest memories all take place in the past, primarily after World War II. When he is happy, it is often when he is reminiscing.
The Chauffeur and the Talking Head
George has many sides to him—all of which are different and often in conflict with each other. As such, he has difficulty controlling himself at times. George gives a couple of these personalities names, one of them being the Chauffeur. This side of George can be compared to an autopilot, his mind taking off in an unrelated direction while his body goes through the motions of a specific action. He uses this analogy while on the freeway, explaining that his body does the driving and his mind gets to think without distraction. George sees the Chauffeur as a passive force under his guidance that can be overcome whenever he wants. However, when he realizes he got to work in record time, he starts to worry that this part of himself is becoming more of its own individual.
The Talking Head is similar to the Chauffeur in that it speaks for George while his mind is elsewhere. It takes over without George’s consent when he is chatting with a student prior to class; he realizes he didn’t hear a single word. George increasingly loses control of the Chauffeur and the Talking Head, indulging in drinks and rants as well as falling in lust with Kenny. While aware of his being more honest and unencumbered than usual, George can do little to deter his fate.
The Peddler and the Diamond
George maintains a certain arrogance and considers himself in a different league than the rest of the world. One of the reasons for this is the fact that the world shuns and isolates him, and he has no choice but to treat it the same way. This aside, George believes he is intelligent and wise, and that he has great truths to impart upon the world—particularly the youth he teaches. He compares himself to a peddler on the street who is selling a diamond for a nickel. The vast majority of people dismiss him and his diamond as fraudulent, and only a few stop to examine the situation in closer detail. Those who do are rewarded with a valuable item for a cheap price. When George approaches the college to teach his class, he observes the students passing by. He believes most of them intend to obtain a degree and get a job, with only a few exceptional people wishing to dissect the hidden truths they can find through education. This thought creates cynicism in George, who rants when his students ask questions he finds foolish and pointless.
War
George does not frequently bring up the threat of war, nor does he express any opinions on it. Instead, war serves as a subtle force that guides the direction and major events of George’s life. George moved to the United States after World War I. Having lived through both World Wars, George and those around him were elated and relieved when World War II finally ended. There was a renewed sense of freedom and possibility among the public. It was during this time that George met Jim, who just returned from the warfront. They fell in love and lived a happy life for many years. And then, the Cold War began—but George was able to live through it because he was happy with Jim. When Jim died, the Cold War loomed overhead as George began to see the future as bleak and potentially nonexistent.
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By Christopher Isherwood
