Charlie's love affair

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Recommended: Gender and roles of women in literature

Charlie meets two women that are complete opposites. Fay Lilman, an artistic woman that lives next door to Charlie, she is spontaneous and lives day by day. Then there is Alice Kinnian, an intelligent and responsible woman, she is the complete opposite of Fay. Alice was Charlie’s teacher when he was mentally retarded, but then becomes his lover. Charlie Gordon encounters sexual affairs with his neighbor Fay. Charlie feels intrigued by Fay’s spontaneous attitude towards life, her careless and spontaneous ways attract him; Charlie wants to make love to her. Charlie refuses to have sex with Alice Kinnian because the old Charlie forbids. Charlie deals with obstacles that come his way; the right moments to make love with Alice occur, but he rejects it. Charlie cannot decide if he loves her or not. His true feelings for Alice is present, but he cannot not comprehend love. Charlie Gordon’s affair with Fay makes him capable of distinguishing sexual flings from true love.
Fay Lilman, attracts Charlie Gordon as soon as they meet. They are complete opposites of each other. When Charlie meets Fay for the first time, she sits half naked and talks to Charlie upside down. Charlie feels uncomfortable when he sees Fay’s messy apartment. Fay has no shame wearing her undergarments in front of a person stranger. She does not care about the mess in her apartment because of her personality. Charlie grows attracted to Fay’s spontaneous lifestyle. In all aspects, Charlie likes Fay’s unorganized lifestyle, and he becomes unorganized. Charlie wants to stay faithful to Alice, but he cannot control it, and he cheats on her. Charlie continues to have sexual affairs with Fay Lillman. Charlie has to satisfy his and her needs. Alice cares for Charlie and truly l...

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...s been there for Charlie emotionally, physically and even financially. Charlie opposes to losing Alice, but he knows that he has to let go, “just leave me alone. I’m not myself. I’m falling apart, and I don’t want you here” (Keyes 300). Charlie is forced to go to the Warren State Home. As Charlie deteriorates, he finds himself entering Alice’s class, where he originally went to school at Beekman University. She sees him walk into class; Alice cries immediately after seeing Charlie sitting in the back of her class. Charlie over thinks the situation and comes to his senses. He realizes that he no longer belongs in Beekman University and immediately goes to the Warren State Home for the mentally retarded. Charlie settles down in Warren State Home and realizes that Alice Kinnian has and always will be his true love, “I don’t deserve someone as good as her” (Keyes 297).

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