Comparing Protagonists in Choke and Birdsong

In this essay I will be exploring and contrasting the relationships of two characters. These characters are Stephen Wraysford of Sebastian Faulks' romantic yet graphically violent novel "Birdsong" and Victor Mancini of anarchic social commentator Chuck Palahniuk's "Choke." "Birdsong" darts between the early 1900s and the 1970s, although Stephen does not appear in the latter dates, and his story is accounted by his granddaughter Elizabeth. "Choke" is a contemporary novel, based in America in the late 20th/early 21st century. In both novels, there are strong messages about relationships, and how they can contribute to the development of a person. While both books may share similar messages, there are massive differences. The main point of contrast is the difference between lust and love.

One of the key aspects of the relationships portrayed in the novels is the idea of lust and sexual attraction. In "Birdsong", the key relationship is the relationship between Stephen and Madame Azaire, the wife of a wealthy businessman that Stephen is visiting. Though their relationship is full of lust and forbidden passion, "she began to arch herself up from him rhythmically as though her body, independent of her, implored his attention", there is also a mutual emotional love between the two, proven by Madame Azaire's reassurance that "you will be strong because you love me" and her later admittance of "I love you" during one of their secret liaisons. Almost immediately after their first sexual encounter, they know that they wish to continue seeing each other and begin making plans for how to make things work between them. This could well be reflective of the values of the time, as although what Stephen and Isabelle are doing is adulterous, they...

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... that even if it's about something absurd, it's hard not to believe in your family.

In conclusion, it is arduous to say who has the stronger relationships out of Stephen and Victor. Although Stephen may have found a seemingly perfect love with Isabelle, he does not have the love of any family left alive, and family love is the groundwork for any emotion in any situation. That said, Victor has the love of a mother, but does not seem to know how to, or want to, love any of his dates or sexual partners. It could well be that your upbringing does not always determine the rest of your life, and therefore does not determine how you work your relationships. Both Stephen and Victor have their strong points, but in the end, everyone handles relationships differently, and no one can manipulate that.

"Unique" isn't the right word, but it's the first that comes to mind.