The History of Love by Nicole Krauss - Essay Example

Module Module ID: The History of Love Q3: Created by renowned US novelist of contemporary era Nicole Krauss, The History of Love (2005) is regarded as one of the most influential works of modern times. Designed on the foundations of exuberant exactitude, gifted imaginative talent and command over human psychology as well, the novel contains astounding turns and astonishing twists, which last till its last page keeping the readers in wait for what is going to be happened next. Consequently, the novel not only won several awards at domestic and international forums, but its unique theme and amazing plot leaves indelible impacts upon the readers at wide scale. The honors include New York Times Bestseller, winner of the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, Borders Original Voices Award, finalist for the Orange Prize, winner of the Edward Lewis Wallant and France’s Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger Awards (WW Norton, 2006). The novel is distinguished in a sense that on one side, it appears to be narrating the account of an isolated old man, leading a life of solitude as a recluse; and on the other side, it elucidates the fast changes taking place in the physical and natural environment of the characters of the same novel. Beyond the vigorous whiplash that keeps Ms. Krauss’s The History of Love moving (and keeps its reader off balance until a stunning finale), this novel is tightly packed with ingenious asides (Maslin, 2008). Hence, the novel maintains depth of social, cultural and emotional aspects of a vivid life, which help the students comprehend with the thoughtfulness a creative mind obtains on the one hand, and the cultural and social aspects of collective interests and motifs related to the individuals, have been expressed in the novel, on the other. Written by an intellectual author Krauss, the novel elaborates the intellectual achievements made by the protagonist at such a young age of less than twenty years by writing books out of sheer feelings for his beloved Alma Mereminski, which reflected his unflinching love for her. Although, Alma also admires his love, and develops intimate relationship with Leo, yet she gets married to an American national after proceeding to the USA at the eve of beginning of the war. Leo also follows her after few years, where he tries his utmost to convince her regarding their childhood passion for each other. However, she turns a deaf ear to all his requests, and carries on leading her life with her husband and two sons. It not only beaks Leo’s heart, but also he decides to spend his entire life in celibacy and working as a locksmith. And he sticks to his words and passes several decades of his life in loneliness. The novel begins with the philosophical prediction of similarity in the last day of his life with the last page of his book, the protagonist proclaims to leave the world under a calm and serene atmosphere in the same manner he has led several years of his life (9). Nevertheless, it does not mean that his life is spent without any ebb and flows altogether. On the contrary, further developments narrate the dreadful memories of German invasion on Poland in 1939 and the subsequent holocaust Leo had experienced before arriving in the USA at the prime of his youth (25). The author has elucidated how the revolutionary alterations WWII had introduced in the individual and collective life of almost all European nations, particularly the Jewish population of Poland (28). Although, neither German invasion nor holocaust could be regarded as the central topic to be discussed in the work, yet it is the war that paves the way towards the chronicle of events that brought about separation between the protagonist Leo and his beloved Alma on the one hand, and forced Leo to hand over the manuscript of his book to his friend Zvi Litvinoff on the other, in order to escape it ruination during the course of war (39). Thus, the work demonstrates that even one single event is enough to bring tremendous alterations at global scale. It is therefore, 9/11 catastrophe could be compared to the German invasion on Poland, as both these incidents changed the political strategies and ideological boundaries of several states in the aftermath of them. Thus, the History of Love also reflects the history of world in its theme by alluding to the consequences of hostilities between the nations. Although during the development of the story, the readers appear to be desperate on the loss of the work produced by Leo for his love during the course of war. In addition, Alma’s departure to the USA and getting married to the son of her factory owner also invites the readers’ curiosity regarding the further developments in next pages. Alma’s rejection to Leo’s true love, and his taking locksmith occupation as Leo’s source of earning express the bitter realities of life that the talent of a creative writer appears to be in jeopardy because of Alma’s betrayal to his proposal. Consequently, the novel looks teaching the students that everything is possible in life, and it is not only positive intentions that bestow successes upon the individuals immediately; rather, fate rewards the people in quite a strange manner, where one would have to wait long in order to obtain recognition in life. Krauss leads the readers from the state of disappointment to the ray of hope, where Leo communicates Zvi’s wife Rosa in order to get the manuscript of his novel. However, since her husband had already got it published in his own name, Rosa takes stance regarding the destruction of the manuscript that produces another twist in the form of disappointment for the readers. Nevertheless, entry of another girl, Alma Singer, in the parallel story serves as the fresh breeze of hope and struggle, where she quite unconsciously approaches the real author of the work during her excursion to trace out the whereabouts and motifs of the mysterious Jacob Marcus, who has offered handsome amount to Alma’s mother for translating the book for him. On the one side, the old Leo has no hope in life, as he had lost his love at the prime of his youth; and is deprived of his son Isaac too without getting introduced with him, who has died at the age of 60 years. And on the other side Alma Singer has been undergoing the challenges of the illness of her mother, and the psychological problems of her only brother; and Marcus’s suspicious support to her mother appears to be quite weird for her. In such a perturbed and uncertain state of affairs she sets out in search of truth, and turns out triumphant in discovering the lost author of the History of Love. Thus, the author teaches the readers how fate indirectly supports the positive people by earning fame, pelf and respect for them eventually. Byrne (2006) also endorses the same reality that observing the positive and constructive thinking and optimism wide opens new horizons of success and triumphs to the individuals. To conclude, it becomes evident that the novel gives the message of hope and optimism to the readers by stating that one’s sincere efforts, pure love and commitment to one’s cause certainly rewards him sooner or later. Although Leo had lost his love due to irony of fate, yet he turns out to be successful in meeting the admirer of his work in the person of Alma Singer. The author demonstrates that though Leo had found contentment in locksmith business, nevertheless, Nature does justice with him, and he becomes able of earning fame as writer and author of a book he had created several years before. Thus, Nature does not let the efforts of the humans go wasted. Instead, man is rewarded for his accomplishments sooner or later. Furthermore, the novel also elucidates the unnoticed horrible consequences of war and bloodshed, which separate the lovers from each other forever. Hence, the work pricks the conscience of the political establishments that wars and hostilities infertile the creativity, and urge the most brilliant brains including Einstein to introduce destructive weapons in order to rescue their nation from the clutches of hostility. Thus, the novel gives a universal message of peace and love; it is therefore, inclusion of the book in syllabus maintains great educational and sociological significance in it. Works Cited Byrne, Rhonda “The Secret” Atriya Books 2006 Krauss, Nicole “The History of Love” WW Norton Publishers 2005 Maslin, Janet “The Story of a Book within a Book” New York Times 04-25-2005 web. Read More