Longing and Obsession in André Aciman's "Enigma Variations"
!SPOILERS AHEAD!
André Aciman’s Enigma Variations is not a traditional romance book. Yet, it profoundly purports to shape our understanding of love in its many forms. Rather than focusing on a singular, idealised version of love, Aciman delves into its complexities, nuances, and contradictions, all while challenging its linear conception. The novel follows Paul, the main character, as he reflects on five significant individuals who have deeply influenced his life. Each person represents a different facet of love, from longing and obsession to intellectual connection and emotional intimacy. This article will explore two of the most formative characters in Enigma Variations and their respective connections to the novel’s themes of longing and obsession.
NANNI - LONGING
In André Aciman’s Enigma Variations, Nanni is essential in establishing the theme of longing, which becomes a defining force in Paul’s life. Nanni’s significance lies not just in being Paul’s first infatuation but in shaping how Paul experiences desire and longing as an unattainable, idealised state. This early relationship, appropriately titled “FIRST LOVE” sets the stage for the complex emotional landscape of Paul’s adult life.
Nanni represents the origin of Paul’s lifelong pattern of longing. As a young boy spending summers in an Italian village, Paul develops an intense fascination with Nanni, a local cabinetmaker. This attraction is marked by a deep sense of admiration and curiosity, where every interaction, no matter how brief, is seemingly imbued with meaning. Paul’s longing for Nanni is expressed through subtle, almost reverent observations - watching him work, relishing shared moments, and craving his attention. This silent and unfulfilled desire becomes Paul’s first taste of what it means to want something beyond reach, where the inherently unrequited nature of the relationship to the audience is contrasted with the all-consuming passion felt by Paul.
Echoing themes from Aciman’s Call Me By Your Name, Aciman masterfully captures this silent infatuation, where the boundaries between admiration, friendship, and desire blur into a state of yearning. The fact that Paul’s emotions remain unexpressed transforms longing into an idealised state, where Paul’s desire is preserved in its purest, most intense form without the complications of reality. This idealisation becomes a recurring pattern for Paul’s adult relationships, who often finds himself drawn to objects of affection that embody a sense of emotional distance.
Further, nostalgia is seen to amplify longing. As Paul grows older, his memories of Nanni do not fade; rather, they deepen, becoming a lens through which he views subsequent relationships. Here, Aciman highlights the idea of longing as that which is not just about the present absence but also about how past desires echo into the future. Paul’s early experiences with Nanni haunt him, making him perpetually yearn for the same intensity and purity of emotion he felt as a boy.
Here, longing becomes an existential state that defines Paul’s approach to life, rather than a mere stint of unrequited love. Paul’s search for fulfilment becomes entwined with a desire for what remains just out of reach, perpetuating an internal cycle where longing itself is the goal.
MANFRED - OBSESSION
While Paul’s relationship with Nanni was rooted in distant admiration with youthful undertones, Manfred’s introduction in Enigma Variations is pivotal in highlighting a shift in Paul’s maturity and subsequent struggle with obsession and desire. Paul’s connection with Manfred embodies a deeper, more mature form of longing that blurs the lines between love and dependency.
Paul’s obsession with Manfred is marked by an intense need for connection, validation, and fulfilment. Paul’s fixation is crafted through subtle, poignant moments - stolen glances, brief conversations, and passionate encounters - that underscore how much Paul’s emotional state hinges on Manfred’s presence. Manfred becomes a mirror for Paul’s internal longing, embodying the fulfilment Paul has chased throughout his life. This need goes beyond romantic love; it represents a search for identity and completeness that Paul projects onto his love interests.
Manfred’s significance lies in how he symbolises both the potential for profound emotional connection and the inevitable pain of obsession. With Manfred, Paul experiences moments of true intimacy and passion, revealing obsession as a tool for making life vivid and meaningful. However, Paul is simultaneously fraught with the fear of emotional vulnerability. Paul’s intense focus on Manfred becomes a double-edged sword; while it allows him to feel deeply connected and alive, it also traps him in a state of anxiety and dependency.
The short relationship between Paul and Manfred emphasises the tenet of Paul’s nature, where true contentment is rarely found in moments of obsession but rather in the acceptance of their fleeting nature.
