cmfireflies wrote:The only problem I see with this is that Hakan says to Eli outright: "you only love me to the extent that I keep you alive." He knows exactly how Eli feels about him, so his bartering for intimacy has nothing to do with a confirmation of love, but is more of a transaction. It's interesting that Hakan thinks that love is "placing your life at the feet of another" or something like that, yet he bargains and exploits Eli's hunger.
I guess it all depends on whether or not one sees it as Håkan deliberately "exploiting Eli's hunger". I do not see it that way, and so I am able to see the other possible motivation. His thoughts and internal discussion including, and especially, "Real love is to offer your life at the feet of another...", all point to Håkan
not exploiting Eli's hunger. His whole poetic discourse about "real love" appears much earlier in the book than the scene outside the bathroom in the flat.
You see an incongruity about Håkan saying "Real love is to offer your life at the feet of another..." and then proceeding to barter Eli's hunger for sexual gratification. And there is most definitely an incongruity, but I find it curious that you choose to question his statement about "real love" rather than your own interpretation of that scene. After all, aren't we supposed to take clues from the story itself to explain a character's actions? Is this not why John chose to give Håkan a rich character description? So that we could use this well fleshed character description to better interpret his later actions? Take Oskar, when he hit Jonny with the stick, out on the ice, we were right behind him cheering him on (well I was at least),
because we knew the reason, the motivation. The teachers knew nothing of this, and so saw it as a monstrously unprovoked attack. Context is everything when it comes to interpreting motivations.
As for Håkan saying "You only love me to the extent I help you stay alive" I see that as him voicing his doubts, seeking confirmation or denial for those doubts.
It is also interesting that he tells Eli that he doesn't want her to die ‘Then die.’, ‘Do you mean that?’, ‘No. I don’t.' That sort of gives away his hand when "extorting sexual favours" comes to the table, no?
I thought I'd read that section of the story again, to see if I had missed anything, seeing that there are people that don't share my thoughts, maybe I had got it wrong? But reading it again I am struck by the thought I had when I first read it, that it is Eli that is attempting to manipulate Håkan, not the other way round. From ‘Do you love me, even one little bit?’ up to ‘I don’t believe you.’ says it all.
- ‘Never again. No matter what you say.’
‘Håkan …’
‘No. It’s just – no.’
‘I’ll die.’
‘Then die.’
‘Do you mean that?’
‘No. I don’t. But you could do it yourself.’
‘I’m still too weak.’
‘You’re not weak.’
‘Too weak for – that.’
‘Well, then I don’t know. But I won’t do it again. It’s so – horrible, so …’
‘I know.’
‘You don’t know. It’s different for you, it is …’
‘What do you know about how it is for me?’
‘Nothing, but at least you’re …’
‘Do you think I like it?’
‘I don’t know. Do you?’
‘No.’
‘No, of course not. Well, anyway … I’m not doing it again. Maybe you’ve others who have helped you who have been … better at this than me. Have you?’
‘Yes.’
‘I see.’
‘Håkan?’
‘I love you.’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you love me, even one little bit?’
‘Would you do it again if I said I loved you?’
‘No.’
‘I should love you anyway, you mean.’
‘You only love me to the extent I help you stay alive.’
‘Yes. Isn’t that what love is?’
‘If only I thought you would love me even if I didn’t do it …’
‘Yes?’
‘… maybe I would do it again.’
‘I love you.’
‘I don’t believe you.’
‘Håkan. I can manage for a few more days but then …’
‘Make sure you start to love me, then.’
When we get to the scene outside the bathroom...
- ‘Are you … hungry?’
Eli turned around again. ‘Yes.’
‘I’ll do it for you. But I want something in return.’
‘What is it?’
‘One night. All I want is one night.’
‘OK.’
‘I can have that?’
‘Yes.’
Håkan states that he has decided to kill again for Eli, but wants a reward. This is not the same as withholding something until demands are met.
.
"For a few seconds Oskar saw through Eli’s eyes. And what he saw was … himself. Only much better, more handsome, stronger than what he thought of himself. Seen with love."
