Neil is a different person after the events of the novel Goodbye Columbus. In the beginning he is curious, nervous and ambitious in his desire to get to know Brenda and become a part of her life. Yet, towards the end of the novel, he is trying to keep things the same, having gained a place in her life, her family's acceptance and come to terms with his apparent reality, he is even more aggressive and nasty.
Granted in the beginning of the novel we are told that he is nasty in his comments by brenda’s reaction to them, these are mild and easily forgiven. However in the end we can see him actively being antagonistic towards her in their argument.
Another key difference is the tone in which he narrates. On the one hand Neil,In the beginning of …show more content…
Thus the tone shifts towards the darker and more melodic nature as you feel the weight and seriousness of the consequences of their actions, either on purpose or accident. The fondness for her is gone by the end, culminating in the phrase “I loved you” (pg 134).
When he examines himself in the window at Harvard, he does not recognize himself. He has gone through this relationship, and the process has changed him. Either for better or for worse. In any case, Neil is right in saying that it would be a long time before he would love anyone like he did Brenda (pg 136). Instead of rushing back to try to capture the love he has apparently lost, he embraces the fact that both he and his life have changed. Letting go of the seemingly perfect life he found with Brenda and her family in Short Hills, New Jersey, and embracing his reality in Newark.
As for Neil’s future, it is rather unclear what will happen to him. The author tells us that he returns to Newark in plenty of time for work, which may mean that Neil becomes absorbed in his work for the remainder of his life, much like Leo. Or it could mean that he returned to his life and started back before he met Brenda. It is difficult to know for certain, yet it can be said that he did not go through this completely unchanged, as evidence by the shift in tone, the way the narrator views the world and
Granted in the beginning of the novel we are told that he is nasty in his comments by brenda’s reaction to them, these are mild and easily forgiven. However in the end we can see him actively being antagonistic towards her in their argument.
Another key difference is the tone in which he narrates. On the one hand Neil,In the beginning of …show more content…
Thus the tone shifts towards the darker and more melodic nature as you feel the weight and seriousness of the consequences of their actions, either on purpose or accident. The fondness for her is gone by the end, culminating in the phrase “I loved you” (pg 134).
When he examines himself in the window at Harvard, he does not recognize himself. He has gone through this relationship, and the process has changed him. Either for better or for worse. In any case, Neil is right in saying that it would be a long time before he would love anyone like he did Brenda (pg 136). Instead of rushing back to try to capture the love he has apparently lost, he embraces the fact that both he and his life have changed. Letting go of the seemingly perfect life he found with Brenda and her family in Short Hills, New Jersey, and embracing his reality in Newark.
As for Neil’s future, it is rather unclear what will happen to him. The author tells us that he returns to Newark in plenty of time for work, which may mean that Neil becomes absorbed in his work for the remainder of his life, much like Leo. Or it could mean that he returned to his life and started back before he met Brenda. It is difficult to know for certain, yet it can be said that he did not go through this completely unchanged, as evidence by the shift in tone, the way the narrator views the world and