Love, its Rationalization and Dependency “ Morning ”

Structure of the Story Lydia after going to the farm (finding ticks) Flashback  Lydia as a grad. Student; Meredith working on his diss.; married for 5 years.  Their meeting in college and their relationship; Scott and Lydia, relationship and their going to the farm (134-37); Climax – the motel episode ( ) Reunion – Meredith ’ s changes; social pressure; changes in Scott ’ s family  divorce and Lydia with Scott

Starting Questions Why does Lydia develop love relationship with Scott outside of her wedlock? What does she want? Does she get it? How do the two men relate to her?

Lydia ’ s Interests and Lack Phisophy: abstraction; inferior position Platonism; Levi Strauss – 144 Scott: his position, knowledge and sexuality The farm house  stir up her fear and need of “ history ”

Philosophers ’ Famous Lines & Lydia ’ s Ideas Spinoza ’ s Ethics: He who repents is twice unhappy and doubly weak; Passion is faceless and mere blindness of will. Lydia ’ s Fetishizing history and savage ’ s forgetfulness (137) I do what I want to do and therefore what I do is what I want. Fate – like Spinoza ’ s close universe “ I did wrong, to marry him. ” 148 Scott – marriage tangled roots underneath 133;

Lydia about love Married at 21; Brainy, absent-minded, committed to housewifery; trusting “ good intentions, mutual respect and affection and ‘ love ’” 131

Meredith vs. Scott Mederith: no romantic 130; organized with clear plans about his future; Concentrated on his work 130 Needs Lydia as a companion; 130; 131; M ’ s simple logic 141 “ Did the right thing ” 143 Scott Emotional; love- making as a playful discourse; Lydia feels like a Christmas tree 132 authoritative body 134; His simple logic 139

Self-Centeredness & Dependency The wife — not talked about by them unless when Scott is annoyed by her(pp. 133; 139; Lydia Coming to rescue her men Meredith 141; Scott 145 – 46 (while Meredith grows mature); Domesticated love 147

Lydia on love What does she need? E.g. Lydia about the house 135; P What has she done, and why? She could not remember.

“ Morning ” in Context 1. gender: idealization of one's lovers (women), gender difference, stereotype, inequality; Lydia is no longer repressed sexually, but she still serves as a rescuer.

“ Morning ” in Context 2. views of love shown through -- treatment of endings; love and death; -- views of self -- love as fusion, love against self-preservation, love as self- projection; love as a way to fill up one ’ s lack; -- marriage (as economic exchange, as continuation of one's fantasies), -- language and emplotment (e.g. of Romantic love, of poetry, of opera) -- etc. etc. 2. views of love shown through -- treatment of endings – L & M: calm, not obsessive, but following a decided route -- views of self – L, M and S: love as a way to fill up one ’ s lack; -- marriage -- economic exchange for status — first a priest ’ s son and then a teacher. -- language and emplotment (e.g. philosophy)