The Marriage Plot

What does the novel suggest about gender roles in modern-day relationships? How do patriarchal gender norms reproduce themselves even in relationships in which both participants seek to reject these norms?

What role does Madeleine’s sister, Alwyn, play in the development of the novel’s themes? In what ways does Madeleine compare herself to Alwyn, and what does she take from these comparisons?

What does Madeleine learn from her experiences with the other men she dates (besides Leonard)? How does each of them contribute to her larger views on relationships and love?

When and to what effect does Eugenides employ humor, sarcasm, or irony? How do these tools advance the novel’s consideration of The Illusion of Romantic Destiny and The Pursuit of Personal Fulfillment?

Many characters reference the economic circumstances of the 1980s. How does the novel portray this time period, and how does this temporal setting impact the novel’s themes?

How do gender norms and stereotypes impact the novel’s three main characters, especially their notions about relationships and love?

Throughout the novel, numerous letters are mailed from character to character. How do these letters function? What role do they play in facilitating relationships between characters?

At one point, Leonard adopts the belief that his mental illness is actually a gift—a rare trait that makes him superior to others and, if harnessed accurately, can be a boon to his creativity and mental endeavors. Does the novel endorse this view? Looking at the examples of Leonard and Mitchell together, what does the novel suggest about the origins of creativity and inspiration?