Re: Eli's worldliness (spoiler)
Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2015 7:22 am
I honestly think Eli would be honest with Oskar about Håkan and others before him. But probably bit by bit.
A forum to discuss John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel and films based on it.
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I agree. Bit by bit as she gets to know Oskar enough feel comfortable with show and tell. Bear in mind, in my take on the film in "When I Am with You," she shows her insecurity a lot -- her smell, drinking blood off the floor, being naked and freezing cold in his bed ("Is that gross?"), and a bunch of other missteps that really scare her that he might reject her. Oh, and just replace "her" with "him," if you like. It comes to the same thing in that insecurity isn't gender specific.intrige wrote:I honestly think Eli would be honest with Oskar about Håkan and others before him. But porbably bit by bit.
I do think that the level of trust and understanding Eli has for Oskar is such that it pre-empts any jealousy. Alas, some of the evidence for this are found only in the novel.dongregg wrote:Lack of trust is about right. I'm inclined to believe that love carries equal amounts of hope and insecurity. There is also the fear of betrayal, that the beloved is saying one thing to you but something else to a rival.
This is something I've thought about quite a bit. As Elias was "made" at the age of 12, it is possible that he had not yet gone through puberty, which would greatly affect his sexual identity. Also, once "made", does a vampire stop maturing physically entirely, all the while continuing to mature emotionally and intellectually? These would all play in greatly in Elias's sexual identity, and ultimately reveal itself in a relationship with Oskar, who is very much a male, but who we are also not sure of his level of sexual development. 12 year olds can be worldy and mature or childlike and immature. I plan on rereading the book when I get it back from my daughter and son who are passing it around, to see if'what I may have missed. I read it in 2 sittings and probably missed a lot.ltroifanatic wrote:One of the great things about this beautiful story is about the purity of love that Eli and Oskar have for each other.Unincumbered by sex or gender.One of my favourite quotes is when Oskar dismisses his doubts and thinks "yes.A boy.My friend".Eli on the other hand is 220 years old and seems to know more about sex than Oskar.Although Eli's confused about love (adult love) when she talks to Hakan but still tells him he can touch but "not that" and also seems to know the mechanics of it when they (Oscar and Eli) laugh about the man in the kiosk and his lady friends.I'm hoping that as Eli is 12 he knows about it but thinks (as 12 year olds think) that its sorta of yucky and a bit disgusting.Your thoughts?..I hope I'm right.I don't want their beautiful relationship marred by sex.Thats why (for me) the little story of Oskar being infected in LTODD is so satisfying.They both stay the same caring loyal lovers forever.
IIRC, novel Eli seems to know a fair amount. This comes out with the revelation of his thoughts upon encountering Zombie Hakan in the basement:banjoist123 wrote:This is something I've thought about quite a bit. As Elias was "made" at the age of 12, it is possible that he had not yet gone through puberty, which would greatly affect his sexual identity. Also, once "made", does a vampire stop maturing physically entirely, all the while continuing to mature emotionally and intellectually? These would all play in greatly in Elias's sexual identity, and ultimately reveal itself in a relationship with Oskar, who is very much a male, but who we are also not sure of his level of sexual development. 12 year olds can be worldy and mature or childlike and immature. I plan on rereading the book when I get it back from my daughter and son who are passing it around, to see if'what I may have missed. I read it in 2 sittings and probably missed a lot.ltroifanatic wrote:One of the great things about this beautiful story is about the purity of love that Eli and Oskar have for each other.Unincumbered by sex or gender.One of my favourite quotes is when Oskar dismisses his doubts and thinks "yes.A boy.My friend".Eli on the other hand is 220 years old and seems to know more about sex than Oskar.Although Eli's confused about love (adult love) when she talks to Hakan but still tells him he can touch but "not that" and also seems to know the mechanics of it when they (Oscar and Eli) laugh about the man in the kiosk and his lady friends.I'm hoping that as Eli is 12 he knows about it but thinks (as 12 year olds think) that its sorta of yucky and a bit disgusting.Your thoughts?..I hope I'm right.I don't want their beautiful relationship marred by sex.Thats why (for me) the little story of Oskar being infected in LTODD is so satisfying.They both stay the same caring loyal lovers forever.
And Eli laughed with relief.
All this. To be able to jack off.
He could stand there, rooted to the spot until. . . until. . .
Can he even get it off? He's going to have to stand there . . . forever.
Eli imagined one of those obscene dolls that you wound up with a key; a monk whose cape went up and he started masturbating as long as the mechanism allowed.
clickety-click, clickety-click. . .
Eli laughed, was so occupied with the crazy image that he didn't notice when Håkan stepped into the room . . . .