Love And Excess: An Analysis

The novel Love and Excess explores subjects such as gender and class relations, as well as the difference between love and desire while working within the context of Romantic fiction. Since the novel functions within he conventions of romance, logically it relies heavily on protagonists with hyperbolic personalities who reflect tropes based off social expectations, and all of whom are subject to a dramatic plot that often comes to a tragic, and occasionally, violent end for the sake of true, romantic love. Examples of these characters include Delmont, a libertine turned humble Christian who has to choose between morality and desire over Melliora, a young and vulnerable woman who is beyond his reach, or Allovisa, Delmont's wife who is passionate …show more content…
He is a servant under Alovisa's employ, and as a result executes a series of actions under her request. It is through Charlo's influence on these events that the plot can continue to progress as such, if he had not been sent by Alovisa to visit Delmont and acquire information on Amenna *insert quote here* then Alovisa's jealousy would not have driven her to write yet another letter to Delmont *insert quote here* which in turn means that he would have not continued to pursue Amena and the plot would have concluded within the first half of the novel. Beyond this, Charlo does not seem to have any other purpose, he is merely an extension of Alovisa's will. The relationship between them, however, and the fact that Alovisa uses Charlo to exercise less than virtuous calls attention to the social conventions on the peasantry and lower class present during this time. Peasants were often considered to be completely lacking in virtue, the common understanding being that they did not possess the education to be familiar with the concept and therefore had no virtue to lose. By contrast, Alovisa is a member of the upper class and female. As mentioned when writing her letter to Delmont *insert quote here* she is limited even when expressing herself anonymously by her own conscience. This hints at the severity of the standards to which is …show more content…
The first part of the book provides framework, introducing Delmont's penchant for women, as well as Alovisa's temper and how these characteristics create potential for the events that follow. Once again, Delmont is caught in a similar situation as before in which he is enamoured with a young woman to the extent of which her virtue is at risk, though now he has a jealous wife to contend with in the process. This time, his love interest is Melloria, a young woman who has been placed in Delmont's care after the passing of her father. She fits the stereotype for the romantic heroine in which she is *insert quote here about beauty and suffering* but also lacks Alovisa's passion, which given the social standards at the time and how Alovisa has had to hide her own passions, would not have been considered acceptable. Unfortunately, this means that Melliora lacks any kind of agency or ability to stand up for herself. When subject to Delmont's advances, she often goes into a state of near paralysis *insert quote here* that prevents her from defending herself. Alovisa, however, is the complete opposite in which her passions and overall lack of control result in her death *insert quote here*. It is likely that she is being punished by the narrative by acting outside the confines of her sex, but given what happens to *insert character name here* this too is questionable. *insert character here* is a