Pitch Dark: Analysis of Major Characters
"Pitch Dark: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate relationships and emotional struggles of its central figures, primarily focusing on Kate Ennis and her tumultuous affair with Jake, a married lawyer. Kate, a journalist in her forties, grapples with her feelings of love and betrayal as she navigates the complexities of being the "other woman." Her journey leads her to Ireland, where her interactions with the local staff, particularly Kathleen, highlight her increasing sense of isolation and distrust. Jake, who is significantly older and emotionally detached, exemplifies the conflicts inherent in an extramarital relationship, leaving Kate yearning for validation and stability.
The text also introduces Diana Cummings, a politically active figure whose friendship with Kate prompts reflections on personal biases and ideological differences. Through Kate's perceptive observations, the narrative explores themes of ambivalence, identity, and the absurdities of life, culminating in her eventual decision to confront her circumstances. The narrative's portrayal of these characters invites readers to consider the emotional landscapes of love, loyalty, and the societal roles imposed upon them. Overall, "Pitch Dark" offers a nuanced exploration of personal relationships, making it a compelling read for those interested in complex character dynamics and emotional authenticity.
Pitch Dark: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Renata Adler
First published: 1983
Genre: Novel
Locale: Connecticut, Ireland, and Orcas Island
Plot: Fiction of manners
Time: 1981, with flashbacks to the early 1960's
Kate Ennis, an attractive, fortyish journalist involved in an eight-year affair with Jake, a married man. Her background is revealed slowly; she appears first as “I,” with her first name introduced later. She attended “a major college” and did graduate work in English. She has some knowledge of the law and was involved in a successful libel action. Kate's fractured narration of the course of her relationship with Jake reflects her disjointed state of mind: She wishes to justify and cling to the obviously deteriorating love affair, yet she simultaneously recognizes its progressively destructive effect on her psyche. Her solution is to flee temporarily from the problematic situation, and she ends up in Ireland, vacationing at the castle of an ambassador who has invited her to stay there in his absence. Her initial difficulties in finding the castle, compounded by the peculiar circumstances surrounding a car accident en route, contribute to her general nervous state of uneasiness; her subsequent indifferent treatment—which she interprets as muted hostility—by the house staff during her stay reinforces her apprehensions about the motives of other people toward her. She eventually flees the country, feeling like a criminal. Although Kate is by turns embarrassed by and self-critical of her mistrust of people and events that she deems suspicious, many of her misgivings ultimately are proved sound. Upon her return to the United States, Kate decides to retire for more contemplation to Orcas Island. Jake is still pursuing her, yet she tries to resign herself to being alone rather than suffering the uncertainties and indignities that accompany her position as the “other woman.” Kate and Jake end up living together. Throughout her adventures, Kate displays a knack for capturing in only the briefest of descriptions the essence of persons and situations she encounters. She is especially perceptive in detecting others' (as well as her own) quirks and exploring their basic absurdities, which she uses as a foundation for her conclusions about the contradictoriness of life, embodied in her ambivalence toward Jake and the resolution of their affair.
Jake, Kate's married lover, a lawyer approximately fifteen years older than Kate. Jake acts selfishly and almost callously toward Kate, refusing despite her repeated requests to go away with her on a trip, even a weekend one, even though over the years he has had plenty of opportunity to do so. At the beginning of the story, he leaves Kate to spend Christmas in the Caribbean with his wife, carrying on a family tradition even though his children are grown and gone. Kate's assessment of his behavior toward her is that he has transposed the relative positions of wife and mistress: Whereas the rejected wife is supposed to experience feelings of cold isolation, the mistress should be basking in warm privilege. Jake is jolted out of his complacence and galvanized into decision only by Kate's leaving. Repeated pleading telephone calls to her protesting his love result in their reunion as cohabiting lovers.
Diana Cummings, a Greek beauty in her early fifties who resides in Lausanne with her husband, John, a native New Englander ten years younger than she. They have three children. An activist who enthusiastically espouses radical causes with which Kate disagrees, Diana hints at possible bias inherent in Kate's German Jewish background to defend her own unsubstantiated political opinions. Kate's relationship with her is an occasion for musing on the nature of friendship.
Kathleen, the young housekeeper at the Irish castle in Cirhbradàn. She is singularly unhelpful to Kate despite the ambassador's assurance that the staff will be eager to please her. When Kate receives an invitation to dine with a neighbor, Kathleen's refusal to provide clear directions to the house results in Kate getting lost in the dark. It is largely the impassive attitude of Kathleen and Celia, the taciturn, middle-aged cook, that drives Kate from the castle.