Essay Questions

What is the complexity of love as portrayed by the author in the book ‘Tarr’?

The 'Tarr' story focuses on Fredrick Tarr and Otto Kreisler's lives and their love encounters. The reader is introduced to the untidy relationship between Tarr and Bertha. Bertha is consumed with modernism, and she wants to take control of the relationship, something that Tarry finds uncomfortable. Tarry intends to do everything to break up with Tarry and look for another girlfriend. Kreisler is dating Anastaysa, but she is eying Tarr because she expects him to break up with Bertha. Consequently, the author reveals that love is complicated because you can entirely love someone, but that person is not interested in you. The reader concludes that getting a perfect match in marriage is an uphill task.

Are rivalry and eroticism emerging as the central theme in the book 'Tarr'?

From the begging of the story, the reader realizes that Tarr and Kreisler are competing for women. The driving force behind Tarr and Kreisler's rivalry is to uncover the desires of women from men. Similarly, Bertha and Anastaysa are competing for men to prove their sexuality. Anastasia is portrayed as an opportunist woman because she is waiting for the breakup between Bertha and Tarry to hang out with him. On the other hand, Tarr wants to control all women and prove that he is the best man than Kreisler and others.

What is the symbolic meaning of the title of the book ‘Tarr’?

The character Tarr is emblematic and represents men's tendency to think that women are objects of sex. Tarr is married to Bertha, but he is doing everything possible to break up with her to snatch Anastaysa from Kreisler. Tarry wants to control women and use them for his sexual desires. Tarr is contending for women's interest across Paris, and this behavior does not please other men because they know him as a cheater.