Maab Mohammed
asked:
Does oliver truely loved Elio I'm not talking here about lust or sexual love, and why oliver choiced to end the things that they had, don't you think that oliver personality somehow mystery,we never went inside his head like Elio, we never know how he does he feel, how thinks, what is he like inside, Tell me what do you though about his personality? His traits, his emotions, his thoughts, him as oliver?
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Marc
There are a lot of examples that Oliver loved Elio.
Here are a few.
The scene where Oliver says "don't ever claim you didn't know."
When Elio was in college and received the phone call from Italy, how Oliver was overcome with the memories and then cried.
15 years after we learn how Oliver tracked Elio's success.
Oliver had the antique postcard reframed and inscribed with cor cordium.
Oliver held onto a souvenir from Rome, the same one that Elio had lost track of.
.
Oliver's love for Elio never died. His heart was broken leaving Elio behind. What other examples are there?
Here are a few.
The scene where Oliver says "don't ever claim you didn't know."
When Elio was in college and received the phone call from Italy, how Oliver was overcome with the memories and then cried.
15 years after we learn how Oliver tracked Elio's success.
Oliver had the antique postcard reframed and inscribed with cor cordium.
Oliver held onto a souvenir from Rome, the same one that Elio had lost track of.
.
Oliver's love for Elio never died. His heart was broken leaving Elio behind. What other examples are there?
Webgreen
I agree with Chase’s evaluation. There is a part in the book where Elio and Oliver are walking to the Book party. Elio notices that something is bothering Oliver. Oliver says “I don’t want anything to change or come between us tonight”. Elio’s response, “who’s the goose?” Oliver ‘...took a long look at me.’ This is where I realized that Oliver is aware of the reaction that society can have on their relationship and Elio isn’t considering that as they are about to reveal themselves to others.
After my first reading of the book, I thought that the relationship for Oliver was not as intense. But a second read made me realize that my first impression was not true. There are lots of examples where Oliver shares his continued feelings with Elio even though Elio does not always interpret those actions/words in that way.
I also think Elio’s youth and self doubt allows him to “let go” of Oliver too easily, but then what can a young man of 17 really do.
I love reading other people’s interpretation of the book.
After my first reading of the book, I thought that the relationship for Oliver was not as intense. But a second read made me realize that my first impression was not true. There are lots of examples where Oliver shares his continued feelings with Elio even though Elio does not always interpret those actions/words in that way.
I also think Elio’s youth and self doubt allows him to “let go” of Oliver too easily, but then what can a young man of 17 really do.
I love reading other people’s interpretation of the book.
Chase
I have this same question. I thought Oliver loved Elio, but in a far more realistic way he was mature enough to understand--it being the early 80s and what gay relationships looked like then was not even what it became a decade later in the 90s. Where Elio was so young, to fall in love completely at 17 is far less guarded and simple--then to see the quick turn of gay acceptance I can see Elio never moving past Oliver in the 90s , wondering what if, in a way Oliver was forced to a decade before given life's trappings.
Ten Thousand
I would like to think that Oliver does love Elio. It's just that not every one can act on their true feelings and then sacrifice their entire life. Elio and Oliver didn't even live on the same continents as far as we know. Italy was the family's summer home but we don't really know where they live, but most likely it wasn't the United States. They would have both have to have given something major up to be with each other. And sometimes people just can't do it. Unfortunately, that might have been easier to do than to live a haunted life of a lost love.
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