The Pangs of Love by Jane Gardam

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The Pangs of Love by Jane Gardam

Jane Gardam has written many award winning books; her book "The Pangs

of Love" is a collection of short stories depicting the differing

relationships between men and women. Her readership is varied: as her

literature is published not only in books but also in women's

magazines. The two short stories "The First Adam" and "Stone Trees"

depict best the differences in individual relationships. They both

highlight love in different circumstances, also both are similarly

tainted with a tinge of regret.

"The First Adam" is written as an interior monologue; we are getting a

snap shot of Bull's views on his life. It is written as a stream of

consciousness; the sentences are disjointed; this gives the reader the

feeling that they are sharing something personal with Bull.

Bull is a stereotypical "bloke". He is depicted as strong and capable

in his work environment; however, this does not transcend to his

relation ship with his wife. His relationship with Moira is to

provide. Jane Gardam portrays Moira as very superficial; she is money

orientated; a very unloving person:

"Dead centre she's lying ……..on the winter side of the mattress."

This reinforces her cold, unloving persona. Bull reflects on their

relationship; he believes that the more he worked away the more his

wife loved him. Moira has made no effort over the years to spend time

with her husband, preferring to lead separate lives; this illustrates

her lack of love for him. Bull describes her as:

"not a woman for places…things for Moira"

Moira is more comfortable in her own environment, surrounded by her

possessions. These possibly...

... middle of paper ...

.... Anna and Toms relationship was

full of lost opportunity, she loved him dearly, he loved God; if he

had been more aware of Anna she would not of strayed.

Both couples, in both stories, lack in the shared, experience of

children; this suggests that possibly there is regret tainting the

relationships. There is also the similarity in both monologues

regarding the husbands selfish behaviour. Bull and his desire to place

work above everything, even his marriage, and the narrators husband a

serial philanderer. The women have taken a back seat to their husbands

ambitions; be it career wise or love orientated. The difference being

that Moira has created her own identity whilst the narrator has hung

onto the shreds of her marriage. Moira, it would seem, stays married

for financial gain as opposed to any emotional attachment.

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