The Art of Fielding
question
Henry and Mike's relationship
Harold
(last edited
Mar 07, 2013 08:33AM
)
Mar 07, 2013 06:01AM
I was fascinated by the book but especially the relationship between Mike Schwartz and Henry Skrimshander. What would a psychologist brand it? Was it codependency? Were there elements of latent homosexuality? I know what the psych for Henry said, but what do you think?I am sincerely interested in your ideas. Thank you for helping me.
reply
flag
I don't think their relationship had elements of latent homosexuality. I think there is an emotional intimacy that exists in a very close friendship. Because their lives were so baseball centered 24/7, they definitely developed an unhealthy codependency on one another.
Codependency? Yes, sure
Latent homosexuality? I don't think in Mike's case, but for Henry probably yes. There's a sentence towards the end that might give a clue: "If you were a boy and loved a girl you can make plans together ... and if you were a boy and you loved a boy then you could make plans together too ... but if you were Henry and you needed Mike you were simply screwed". Also, he doesn't have any other sexual relationship than Pella, and this one is clearly therapeutic, with no lust or love there... I don't think Mike could be an option, only an example of how to move on from their mutual codependency. Also, there are plenty of hints through the book pointing at that: Pella's complaints about the time Mike and Henry spend together, Henry's thought about kissing Owen, Henry's parents report about Affenlight's conduct that almost seem a sentence (a sentence in their view, of course) for their future...
Latent homosexuality? I don't think in Mike's case, but for Henry probably yes. There's a sentence towards the end that might give a clue: "If you were a boy and loved a girl you can make plans together ... and if you were a boy and you loved a boy then you could make plans together too ... but if you were Henry and you needed Mike you were simply screwed". Also, he doesn't have any other sexual relationship than Pella, and this one is clearly therapeutic, with no lust or love there... I don't think Mike could be an option, only an example of how to move on from their mutual codependency. Also, there are plenty of hints through the book pointing at that: Pella's complaints about the time Mike and Henry spend together, Henry's thought about kissing Owen, Henry's parents report about Affenlight's conduct that almost seem a sentence (a sentence in their view, of course) for their future...
This Mike/Henry relationship is one of the most interesting I've read in years. No, I didn't see it as latent homosexuality, but there is indeed need/power/dependency.
I loved this book, it was so much more than I had expected it to be. IMHO Mike and Henry have a codependent relationship. I think Henry and Mike have something more than friendship but I don't know if I would say it was latent homosexuality. I don't know, it is certainly a complex relationship.
I do not work in the mental-health field but IMHO it was a co-dependent relationship. Neither could function without the other. I loved this book, great characters. I live in a small college town and could imagine the story taking place here.
They were co-dependent IMHO. This book brought back a lot of memories about attending a small college in a college town.
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
