![]() ![]() The Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferranteįerrante’s Neapolitan novels tell the story of another pair of friends whose lives are inextricably entwined over decades. ![]() As Elaine reflects, years after she has lost touch with Cordelia, even though they have tormented one another, “We are like the twins in old fables, each of whom has been given half a key.”Ģ. But who really held the power in that relationship, and what gives early friendships their unique hold over our lives? Atwood explores these destructive dynamics with customary insight and brilliance. When painter Elaine returns to Toronto for a retrospective of her work, she is assailed by memories from her past and the friendships that blighted her childhood, in particular with Cordelia, who taunts and bullies her “as if she’s driven by the urge to see how far she can go”. These novels of toxic friendship explore much more than just cruelty or manipulation – their characters are caught up in a tangle of co-dependency and intimacy, affection and deception. We choose our friends, and yet they can have great sway over our lives, holding up a mirror, providing support, but also exerting an influence that can be hard to unravel. Put under the microscope, friendships are uniquely fascinating – free from familial duty or, usually, from sexual desire. ![]()
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