The Role of Friendship and Loyalty in Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney (2017)

Expanding the Roles:
Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends explores the complicated relationships between two college students, Frances and Bobbi, and an older married couple, Nick and Melissa. The novel delves into themes of friendship, loyalty, and emotional intimacy, exploring how these elements shape the characters’ lives and their understanding of themselves. For literature students, this book offers a deep dive into the complexities of modern relationships and how literature can capture the nuances of human connection.

• Friendship and Loyalty in Complex Relationships:
  The relationship between Frances and Bobbi is central to the story, and their friendship evolves as they navigate their involvement with Nick and Melissa. Students can analyze how Rooney explores the shifting dynamics of loyalty in friendships, particularly when complicated by romantic or sexual entanglements.

• Emotional Intimacy and Self-Discovery:
  The novel examines how intimacy and vulnerability play crucial roles in self-discovery. Students can explore how Rooney captures the nuances of emotional intimacy in relationships and how it contributes to the characters’ growth and self-understanding.

What We Learn:
Conversations with Friends teaches literature students about the complexities of modern relationships, especially the role of loyalty and emotional intimacy in friendship and romance. The novel also offers insights into how literature can explore themes of self-discovery and the fluidity of human connections.