Review of The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen (1938)
Review of The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen (1938)
Introduction
Published in 1938, Elizabeth Bowen’s The Death of the Heart is a profound exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. Set in a post-Victorian world between the two World Wars, the novel dissects the lives of individuals navigating the emotional turmoil of their personal relationships. Bowen’s ability to intricately weave together her characters’ psychological landscapes and emotional struggles marks this work as one of her finest achievements. The novel is a rich, atmospheric exploration of class, identity, longing, and the internal battles between innocence and experience.
Plot Summary
The novel centers around Portia (the “heart” of the story), a young girl who has recently lost her mother. Portia is sent to live with her half-brother, Thomas, and his wife, Anna, in their London home. The novel’s focus is on Portia’s emotional coming-of-age as she navigates the complexities of her new life, particularly her interactions with the adults around her. Central to her emotional turmoil is her relationship with Anna, as well as the feelings she develops for Anna’s lover, Eddie.
Portia, who is innocent, naïve, and inexperienced in matters of love and adult relationships, is faced with the disillusionment that comes from learning harsh truths about those around her. She becomes entangled in a love affair that exposes her vulnerabilities and forces her to confront the cruelty of the adult world. The novel explores how love, betrayal, and emotional growth intersect and ultimately shape Portia’s understanding of herself and the world she inhabits.
Themes
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Innocence vs. Experience: One of the central themes of The Death of the Heart is the loss of innocence as characters grapple with complex emotions and social expectations. Portia, as a young woman coming into adulthood, is caught between the innocence of childhood and the harsher realities of the adult world. The emotional disillusionment she faces in the story—especially through her relationship with Eddie and Anna—symbolizes the inevitable loss of innocence as one matures.
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Isolation and Alienation: Throughout the novel, Bowen captures the sense of emotional loneliness and alienation that pervades the characters’ lives. Portia’s sense of displacement, as she moves in with her half-brother’s family after her mother’s death, is mirrored in the emotional isolation experienced by Anna and Eddie. Even in their relationships, the characters are unable to connect deeply, making the novel a poignant commentary on the alienating effects of societal norms and emotional repression.
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The Complexity of Human Relationships: Bowen’s portrayal of the complexity of relationships is perhaps the novel’s most striking feature. The tensions between Portia and Anna, the romantic entanglements, and the emotional turbulence that each character faces underscore the theme of how love and desire can both elevate and destroy. The emotional distance between the characters, despite their proximity, illustrates the challenges inherent in human connection.
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Loss and Grief: The theme of loss runs throughout the novel, both literally and metaphorically. Portia’s mother’s death is the catalyst for her emotional upheaval, but the sense of loss extends beyond physical death to the emotional voids and broken promises experienced by the characters. Bowen’s writing subtly reflects how individuals are often left to navigate grief without proper resolution or understanding.
Characterization
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Portia: As the protagonist, Portia is both innocent and deeply sensitive. Her emotional vulnerability is at the heart of the novel, and Bowen skillfully captures her transition from naïve girlhood to a more disillusioned understanding of life and love. Portia’s emotional journey is poignant and relatable, symbolizing the painful yet inevitable process of growing up.
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Anna: Anna, Portia’s half-sister-in-law, is a complex figure who represents the emotional coldness and detachment of adult relationships. While she cares for Portia, her own emotional limitations prevent her from offering genuine affection or support. Anna’s love affair with Eddie is central to her character’s emotional struggles, and she, like the others, experiences deep emotional conflict throughout the novel.
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Eddie: Eddie, who is involved with Anna, represents the emotional selfishness that Bowen critiques in the novel. He is detached, cynical, and manipulative, yet he becomes the object of Portia’s affection, further complicating her emotional development. His relationship with both women exposes the destructive nature of unrequited and misguided love.
Literary Style
Bowen’s writing in The Death of the Heart is rich with psychological depth and subtle emotional nuance. Her prose is elegant and often melancholic, capturing the complexities of human emotions with precision and insight. The novel’s narrative style shifts between perspectives, with Bowen providing readers with a multi-dimensional view of the characters’ inner lives. Her attention to atmosphere—often focusing on the physical settings of the novel, such as the bleak London landscape—reinforces the emotional tone of the story.
Bowen’s mastery of symbolism is evident in her use of imagery to reflect the internal struggles of her characters. The heart in the title symbolizes not only Portia’s emotional journey but also the broader theme of vulnerability and the consequences of emotional exposure. Bowen often employs contrasts between external appearances and internal realities, highlighting the tension between how characters present themselves and their true feelings.
Impact and Legacy
While The Death of the Heart was not immediately recognized as a masterpiece upon its release, its importance in the canon of modernist literature has grown over time. Bowen’s exploration of the emotional landscapes of her characters, combined with her deft handling of psychological realism, makes this novel an essential read for anyone interested in 20th-century literature. The novel’s impact lies in its ability to engage with universal themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, all within a finely crafted narrative.
Conclusion
The Death of the Heart is a beautifully written, deeply introspective novel that examines the complexity of human emotions and relationships. Through the character of Portia, Bowen explores the painful yet transformative experience of growing up, while also capturing the emotional isolation that can exist even in the most intimate relationships. With its intricate characterizations and poignant reflections on love, loss, and personal growth, Bowen’s novel stands as a significant work in English literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
