The Lover

What role does the elder brother play in the narrator’s family? Why do you think that he fears the narrator?

Analyze the narrator’s relationship with three other women in the text. How does the narrator regard these women? How do her social expectations compare to theirs?

How does Duras experiment with untraditional, nonlinear narrative styles in The Lover?

How do scenes of the narrator in France compare with those of her in Saigon? Pick two scenes and compare their themes, imagery, and voice.

Do you believe the narrator was truly not in love with the lover? Why or why not?

How does the image of the narrator described in the opening pages correspond with her character development through the novel?

How is the lover’s fearful and nervous nature influenced by his father’s financial power over him?

Do you believe the narrator achieved the independence she desired when she was a young girl in Saigon? If so, what did she have to sacrifice to achieve this independence?