The latest waning phase of the like transpires as Melanctha once more requires right up their unique “drifting
And their implicit reasoning, new play on terminology are an effective categorical rejection away from Jeff’s reflective er Rumensk kvinner vakre? and ideological “love” at the same time frame this new confession from a romance and that their attitude will never create him to know
“Care about you Jeff Campbell,” said Melanctha slower. “I certainly manage manage you Jeff Campbell lower than you are always considering plus than you are actually once you understand.” (132)
As he observes you to Melanctha plus fades having a special guy he pieces from their unique permanently, maybe not as opposed to assuring their particular, generously and you will of a safe range, of their charity and you can brotherly love: “The guy resemble a sibling so you can their always, when she requires they
Brand new dialogue continues on following mother’s demise, and you will takes on case at work from mans schizoid part expectations using a split picture of woman one to shows absolutely nothing apart from new split inside the very own mind between the “good,” best care about passionate of the antique suggestions additionally the involuntary self-consumed by the anxiety and you may shame: brand new separated ranging from intellectuality and you may conscience, on one front side, and you will feelings and you can instinct, on the other.
Jeff, then, is only able to look for Melanctha in terms of an effective stereotypically puritan paradox, as either slut otherwise madonna. He sees inside her “a real beauty,” “a bona-fide sweet” (138) – to your exactly who they have emotions out of spiritual adoration. Conversely, the guy observes their particular since the an excellent femme fatale , who arouses in the him anxiety about the strange uncertainty out-of lady, the brand new overwhelming energy of emotion, plus the archetypal anxiety about being drowned: “[. ] after which We certainly do get terrible scared to come calmly to your.” (139) Jeff’s concept of like shows his ambivalent image of woman: to your one-hand, “a good quiet perception inside the children” (124) as well as on one other “enjoying [. ] just like any creature that’s lower in new avenue to each other” (124).