The Bright Years

Lillian is the point-of-view character for Part 1 of The Bright Years and Ryan’s love interest. She is defined by the hope she consistently demonstrates, particularly with regard to her relationship with Ryan, and her character arc emphasizes The Endurance of Love Through Crisis. Even though Ryan’s alcohol addiction disrupts her family, she holds on to the hope that he will enter recovery and be the Ryan she met: “If there’s anything I envy Shauna for, it’s not that she has Michael—it’s that she doesn’t have Patrick Darnell, who died when Shauna was pregnant. Loss keeps a tight grip when there’s hope left, and some small part of me still hunts for Ryan When He Was Sober” (85). Lillian feels the pain of Ryan’s addiction more because of the love and hope she feels for him, and she is envious of Shauna, whose partner died. She reflects that whereas Shauna can mourn, Lillian cannot, as she remains unable to move on from the Ryan of before.

Lillian is also characterized by her resilience and her loyalty to those she loves. Even though Ryan disappoints Lillian, she remains confident that he is still the man she met, faithful to the best version of him.