Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff is one of the novel from 2015 that everyone should read. It has everything to tickle readers’ fancy. First of all, it is beautifully written, Lauren Groff proves that she receives her literary awards not without a reason. The characters and the storyline she makes up are believable, it is difficult not to sympathize with them. Fates and Furies is like a fascinating trip to a human heart.
Lotto (Lancelot) craves for love and warmth. His tragedy lies in absence of love – to be more precise – in his inability to notice it. He used to believe that the only reason why his mother decided to send him to a boarding school was her disappointment in him and lack of love for him. Teenage years devoid of affection make him look for love – at least a physical part of it – in every place. As the result, he earns a reputation as a womanizer. Lotto’s number one problem is that he is a big narcissist. In spite of the fact that he gets more love than anyone could even dream about, it is still not enough. He can’t forget that his mother abandoned him. However, it should be mentioned that Lotto’s complexes are born from old misfortunes.
His father, a classmate, his first love – all they died. Everything was changing so quickly that it was frightening. The realization that he is not going to live forever, that people he calls his family and friends can leave him any moment, plants seeds of fear in his soul. That is the reason why he clings to Mathilde. She is his anchor and her support means everything to him. The idea that he is the only one man in her life helps him to thrive. One could say that he is dependent on her and that person wouldn’t be wrong. Lotto is so convinced that Mathilde has always been interested only in him that the truth actually kills him. The lesson is that we can’t own people we love. This thought is painful to admit, but it is the truth. Antoinette is right, when she says that Mathilde is a good wife, regardless her mistakes. It is pity that Lotto is going to understand it when it is too late.
Mathilde is a complex character. Like the majority of people, she has positive and negative traits. Her parents are convinced that she is a monster, for she is responsible for her little brother’s death. That one – but rather terrible deed – predetermines her life. She starts to believe in her evilness herself. In spite of everything, Mathilde doesn’t evoke a feeling of disgust.
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff is the novel that teaches its readers not to assume and be honest. It is also a perfect example that illustrates how variable love can be. In other words, Fates and Furies is about people’s feelings and emotions, about their insecurities, hopes and fears.
