Leonard and Hungry Paul
43 pages • 1-hour read
Ronan HessionLeonard and Hungry Paul
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Symbols & Motifs
Paul’s Chamber of Commerce Win
Paul’s contest award symbolizes adult ambition, confidence, and a willingness to engage with the world. The contest is Paul’s first real demonstration of ambition and marks the beginning of his path toward a long-delayed adulthood, exploring How Personal Growth Transforms Relationships. Paul begins the novel lacking motivation; he remains in his parents’ home long into his thirties because he has little interest in charting the course of his life and prefers to let things play out.
When Paul hears about the Chamber of Commerce’s desire to develop a new, standardized email sign-off updating phrases used during the era of letter writing, he comes up with and submits an entry. This bit of initiative coincides with Paul noticing that those around him are moving forward: Grace is about to be married, Leonard is pursuing a relationship with Shelley, and Paul’s parents are retired and entering a new life stage. Paul vows not to be left behind. Making it into the final round of the contest bolsters his spirits, but winning the contest is an accomplishment that has even more significant ramifications. The large award allows Paul to alter his view of himself as someone who could financially contribute to his parents’ retirement, while a conversation with a mime leads to a job offer from the mimes’ organization that capitalizes on Paul’s particular set of skills.
Leonard’s Encyclopedia Entries
Leonard’s encyclopedia entries for children are one of the novel’s primary motifs. At first, his writing symbolizes Balancing Solitude and Human Connection, reflecting his need for being alone and his desire to be part of the world. Leonard’s work allows him to put his intellect, writing skills, and knowledge to use without interacting too much with his colleagues. Yet Leonard’s job also allows him to open up new worlds for children who love learning just as much as he did at their age. This indirect interaction with children allows him to contribute meaningfully to their growth and development.
Eventually, the encyclopedias come to represent Leonard’s evolving understanding of social ties, allowing him to demonstrate his emotional intelligence despite his social awkwardness. Gifting a copy of his new book to Shelley’s son, Patrick, is a physical expression of his desire to become part of Patrick’s life. As he sees the impact of his writing on one particular child, he realizes that he is capable of forging a real bond without his writing as a mediator.
Paul and Helen’s Hospital Visits
Helen has a volunteer position keeping patients company at a local hospital. She encourages Paul to start accompanying her on her shifts in part to get him out of the house and engaged in a meaningful activity. These visits become a key representation of Kindness as a Relationship Paradigm.
For extroverted Helen, the hospital visits represent a way to direct her energy out into the world post-retirement. She develops a bond with a patient named Barbara. As the two share stories about their lives, Helen suppresses her desire to talk to new people for the sake of helping Barbara navigate a difficult hospital stay. Helen values kindness and uses it to guide her interaction with Barbara. She is also thoughtful toward the nurses, bringing presents and being respectful in her conversations with them.
For introverted Paul, the hospital visits symbolize a first step toward finding his adult niche. Paul feels discomfort with Helen and Barbara’s voluminous chats but does find Mrs. Hawthorn, a patient who does not want to talk but appreciates Paul’s company. When Paul meets her son, a busy man who has little interest in sitting with his mother, he realizes how important his afternoons with Mrs. Hawthorn have been.
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