The strange thing about Marianne and Connell’s relationship during this period is that they’re seemingly willing to indulge their romantic bond but haven’t actually started dating. They aren’t full-on sleeping with each other, of course, but their emotional connection has all the characteristics of a romantic relationship: they go on long walks, talk a lot, and simply enjoy each other’s company. Part of why they enjoy spending time in this capacity might have to do with the fact that they’ve never been able to be together in public before, due to the secrecy of their relationship in secondary school. There is, then, a liberating feeling that comes along with the time they spend together in Dublin, even if it’s restricted by their inability to
fully commit to each other as romantic partners.