The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides centers on a love triangle involving Madeleine Hanna, a literature student at Brown University in the 1980s, her manic-depressive boyfriend Leonard Bankhead, and Mitchell Grammaticus, who hopes to turn his friendship with Madeleine into something more. The story unfolds against the backdrop of their struggles with mental health, love, and existential questions. Sensitive topics include mental illness and its impacts.

Jeffrey Eugenides' The Marriage Plot is lauded for its sophisticated exploration of love and academia, with richly developed characters and incisive wit. However, some critics find the narrative pacing uneven and the thematic elements occasionally heavy-handed. Ultimately, it remains a compelling read, blending romance and intellectual discourse with finesse.

A reader who would enjoy The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides is likely a fan of contemporary literary fiction with a penchant for character-driven narratives and intricate explorations of relationships and self-discovery. Readers who appreciate the works of Jonathan Franzen, such as The Corrections, and David Foster Wallace, like Infinite Jest, will find this novel engaging.

Melancholic / Contemplative / Romantic / Nostalgic / Emotional

- The Marriage Plot, published in 2011, was included in the New York Times Notable Books of the Year and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction.
- Jeffrey Eugenides, the author of The Marriage Plot, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2003 for his earlier novel, Middlesex.
- The title of the book, The Marriage Plot, refers to a narrative structure common in 19th-century literature, which often revolves around courtship and marriage as central themes.

Jeffrey Eugenides

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore The Marriage Plot reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read The Marriage Plot | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Marriage Plot and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Marriage Plot Summary

Background

The Marriage Plot Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 1 The Marriage Plot Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 2 The Marriage Plot Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 3 The Marriage Plot Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 4 The Marriage Plot Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 5-6

The Marriage Plot Chapters 5-6 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The Marriage Plot Character Analysis

theme

Themes

The Marriage Plot Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Marriage Plot Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

The Marriage Plot Important Quotes with Page Numbers

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

The Marriage Plot Essay Topics

The Marriage Plot

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Marriage Plot?

Reading Age

Book Details