IND AFFOr

Out of Love in SarajevoBy:

Fay WeldonAnalyzed By:

Claire Logan and Caroline Saca

Some Background of the Author…

Fay Weldon was born in England in 1933 but spentmost of her youth in Auckland, New Zealand. Whenshe was 14, her parents divorced and Weldonreturned to England with her mother, never to seeher father again. She studied psychology andeconomics at St. Andrews but returned home aftershe had a son. Soon after, she married her firsthusband, a headmaster who was 25 years older thanher named Ronald Bateman. Their marriage endedtwo years later when she left him (sound familiar?).To support her and her son, Weldon began workingfor in the advertising industry. Later she met andmarried her second husband, Ron Weldon.Together, they had three sons. In the 1960s, shebegan writing for television and radio and in 1967,published her first novel, The Fat Women’s Joke.She continued to build a successful career in writingacross all categories including novels, short stories,plays, and radio and television scripts. In 1994,Weldon and her second husband divorced when heleft her for his astrological therapist who had toldhim the couple’s astrological signs wereincompatible. Weldon’s intriguing life has given hermuch to write about. She specializes in herportrayal of women who find themselves trapped inoppressive situations typically caused by men. INDAFF is a quintessential example of classic Weldonpiece.

Some Background of Sarajevo…Sarajevo is the capitaland largest city ofBosnia and Herzegovina.Sarajevo is mostimportantly known asthe city in whichWorld War I began. In1914, a young mannamed Principassassinated theArchduke of Austria thatsparked the war. Asvaguely stated in thestory, what is interestingis that Princip’s stepswere cemented into theground in Sarajevo, andare still visible in amuseum in the city. Canyou think of anyhistorical artifacts likePrincip’s footsteps thatremain in America?

Some Themes in The Story…

-Crimes of Passion-Justified Motives

-Guilt and Selfishness

Some Synopsis…First of all, the story begins with the quote of “This is a sad story. It has tobe.” “IND AFF” tells the tale of a 25-year-old graduate student on vacationwith her much older professor, Peter Piper while also intertwining elementsof history. The story takes place in Sarajevo, Bosnia, which is the locationin which a man named Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand ofAustria in 1914, sparking World War I. Princip was put into jail for hisentire life, until he died of tuberculosis. The narrator and her professor arevacationing in order for the student to develop her classical history thesis.However, the professor is more than her guide, he is also her married lover.Another purpose of the story is to recover from the year’s “sexual and moraltorments,” but in all reality, Peter is at a crossroads of whether or not toleave his wife. While in Sarajevo, the pair has only encountered rain, whichflaws their plans. The girl laments that she loves to be seen with theprofessor; he is smart and mature, and also the “Real Thing” (notice thecapitalization). This idea is a clear example of her questionable motives ofthe relationship. The narrator and her lover stop at a café, and discussnumerous historical events together. Peter continues to complain about thetardiness of their meal, while the narrator contemplates their relationship.She refers to it as nothing other than “inordinate affection” which thenPeter regards as a “sin.” He proceeds to discuss more history regardingPrincip and the assassination. However, her affection begins to wear off asshe wonders if she is willing to live with herself is she ends a marriage.While at the café, she notices a handsome waiter, and takes his reciprocatedglance as a sign that she is not meant to be with Peter. Again, she has to lookat herself and wonder if she is willing to be a Princip-like character and ruina marriage, just as he started a war. After her exchange with the waiter,she gets up and walks away, finally making the realization that she has beenselfish. However, would she be willing to risk her morals for a man? Sheprogresses to think about Mrs. Piper, and how she isn’t even in Sarajevo andshe is haunting her. The narrator’s sister urges her on with comments suchas -“’If you can unhinge a marriage, it’s ripe for unhinging…Go for it!(164). All throughout the story, the narrator wrestles with the comparisonof Princip to herself, and how she mustn’t follow in his footsteps, if youcatch my drift. “Second chances are rare in life: they must be responded to.”At the end of the story, the narrator finally comes to the conclusion that shecould never live with the guilt of demolishing a relationship and makes thegutsy choice to stray away from the relationship.

Some Lit Terms…-Setting: Physical and social context inwhich the action of a story occurs. The

major elements of the setting are the time,the place, and social environment that

frames the characters. Is Sarajevo a validsetting for the story’s themes?

-Dynamic Character: The character thatundergoes some kind of change because ofthe action in the plot. Who is the dynamic

character in “IND AFF?”

-Allusion: A brief reference to a person,place, thing, event, or idea in history orliterature. Allusions conjure up historic

figures and locations and wars.“IND/AFF” is rattled with allusions. What

are some?

-Crisis: A turning point in the action of astory that has a powerful effect on theprotagonist. What is the crisis for our

narrator?

Some Questions To Consider…Please Answer Two

1. There are numerous parallels between the narratorand Princip, the assassin of Archduke FranzFerdinand, and their major life decisions. Do youthink both people made reasonable or impulsivedecisions? Why? Give examples from the text!

2. Do you think the narrator’s motives regarding herrelationship with Peter are pure or self-serving?Give examples from the text!

3. What is the historical significance of Sarajevo? Ifthe story had taken place in any other city, would ithave been as powerful? Explain your answer.

4. Analyze the relationship between the narrator andPeter. Do you find it neutral or one-sided? In otherwords, is one or the other more energetic about therelationship?

5. What is the turning point for the narrator? Usequotes from the text to support your answer!

6.Look at the quotes supplied on the right side of thispage. Select one of the quotes and discuss itssignificance to the story. If you had to pick a list ofessential quotes, would you include this one?Explain your answer.

Some Notable Quotes…-“’How much I love you,’ I said

automatically, and was finally aware howmuch I lied.” (165)

-“Peter might be forty-six, but…I adoredhim. I loved to be seen with him.” (163)

-“’Inordinate affection is a sin.” (163)

-“Princip saw the archduke’s car parkedoutside, and went for it. Second chances are

rare in life: they must be responded to.”(165)

-“Poor Princip, too young to die-like somany other millions. Dying for love of a

country.” (163)

-“Were we really, truly suited? We had to besure, you see, that this was more than justany old professor-student romance; that it

was the Real Thing.” (162)

-“’If you can unhinge a marriage, it’s ripefor unhinging…Go for it! (164)