Younger Man / Older Woman in Literature

Nabeel · 11-11-2019, 03:46 PM

I'm writing a novel set in London in the 1940s. My MC is a bookish 26 year-old man who falls into an affair with a slightly older woman. He then has sudden doubts about what he's doing.

As a bookish young man, he's able to think of literary precedents. Unfortunately I can't think of many! I have remembered Frederic Moreau and Mme Arnoux in Sentimental Education. But are there other examples, preferably in fairly mainstream English-language literature? Even better if they show unhappy, immoral and unsuccessful liaisons.

I have consulted with a Professor of English Literature, and he can't think of any.

All help appreciated.

Nabeel

BookCat · 11-11-2019, 05:27 PM

You'd probably have to skip the Victorians and go back further.

issybird · 11-11-2019, 06:49 PM

How about Linton Heathcliff and Catherine Linton, from Wuthering Heights? Their relationship was unhappy and unsuccessful, if not immoral (other than Catherine's being forced into it).

La Dame aux Camélias by Dumas would seem to have the elements you want, other than being French (but it was well-known in England). However, while I assume Marguerite Gautier, the courtesan, was older than the youthful Armand Duval, I don't know this for certain. On thought, it also has just two of your three elements: it was unsuccessful and immoral, but happy.

This is a fun question!

Nabeel · 11-12-2019, 03:08 AM

Thank you Issy. La Dame would be a good one. Someone else has also suggested Colette's Cheri. All decadent French literature!

issybird · 11-12-2019, 06:05 AM

There's Paul Pennyfeather and Margot Beste-Chetwynde from Waugh's Decline and Fall which hits all three marks, but I don't think satire is what you had in mind!

Dr. Drib · 11-12-2019, 06:27 AM

For the psychological effects of a young man involved in loving an older woman - but not set in London - and how age and circumstance intervene, check out these two:

1) Summer of '42 - Herman Raucher (There's also a movie.)

2) A Widow for One Year - John Irving

meeera · 11-12-2019, 08:12 AM

So long as you're not looking for happy endings, there's always Oedipus.

Chéri by Colette? Published in 1920 in French, which your bookish Londoner may well read. I'm not sure of the date of first translation into English.

crich70 · 11-12-2019, 09:44 AM

I'm not certain of their ages being different but there was Sampson and Delilah. A story that would certainly be known to your character.

issybird · 11-12-2019, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

I'm not certain of their ages being different but there was Sampson and Delilah. A story that would certainly be known to your character.

I am really scratching my head on this one. The point of the reference is an older woman and younger man. There's nothing at all that I know of about Samson and Delilah that would indicate they reflect this (admittedly my Bible knowledge is on the sketchy side). But that being the case, whyever would you suggest them? Of all the literary couples in the world? I can't help thinking that you're reading into the theme of disparate ages some power dynamic and that a powerful woman, especially one who brings down a man, must perforce be older.

crich70 · 11-12-2019, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I am really scratching my head on this one. The point of the reference is an older woman and younger man. There's nothing at all that I know of about Samson and Delilah that would indicate they reflect this (admittedly my Bible knowledge is on the sketchy side). But that being the case, whyever would you suggest them? Of all the literary couples in the world? I can't help thinking that you're reading into the theme of disparate ages some power dynamic and that a powerful woman, especially one who brings down a man, must perforce be older.

Nope. Only that sometimes a guy picks the wrong woman to get close to and she leads him to either figurative or literal destruction.

issybird · 11-12-2019, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

Nope. Only that sometimes a guy picks the wrong woman to get close to and she leads him to either figurative or literal destruction.

Oh, sure. Because it's all. her. fault.

There is nothing in the OP's original post to imply that the man had picked the wrong woman at all, much less one who would lead him to destruction. That's your projection and you based it on her being older.

Deskisamess · 11-12-2019, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

Nope. Only that sometimes a guy picks the wrong woman to get close to and she leads him to either figurative or literal destruction.

But that isn't what the op asked for. And as far as Samson, what happened to him was his fault, driven by his pride and inappropriate desire for Delilah. No details are given about her, but many are given about Samson, including his past history with harlots.

Nothing the op said is about an older women causing trouble for a younger man.

BookCat · 11-12-2019, 04:54 PM

I was also wondering about Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare) but googled it and found that Antony was probably older than Cleo by quite a few years.

Doitsu · 11-13-2019, 09:51 AM

How about The Graduate by Charles Webb?

issybird · 11-13-2019, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doitsu

How about The Graduate by Charles Webb?

It's in the future, given the 1940s setting. But could be useful as reference, as with Dr. Drib's suggestions.

11-11-2019, 03:46 PM	#1
Nabeel Zealot Posts: 147 Karma: 2747136 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Britain Device: Kobo Aura One	Younger Man / Older Woman in Literature I'm writing a novel set in London in the 1940s. My MC is a bookish 26 year-old man who falls into an affair with a slightly older woman. He then has sudden doubts about what he's doing. As a bookish young man, he's able to think of literary precedents. Unfortunately I can't think of many! I have remembered Frederic Moreau and Mme Arnoux in Sentimental Education. But are there other examples, preferably in fairly mainstream English-language literature? Even better if they show unhappy, immoral and unsuccessful liaisons. I have consulted with a Professor of English Literature, and he can't think of any. All help appreciated. Nabeel

11-12-2019, 08:12 AM	#7
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,862 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	So long as you're not looking for happy endings, there's always Oedipus. Chéri by Colette? Published in 1920 in French, which your bookish Londoner may well read. I'm not sure of the date of first translation into English. Last edited by meeera; 11-12-2019 at 08:16 AM.

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11-11-2019, 05:27 PM	#2
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	You'd probably have to skip the Victorians and go back further.

11-11-2019, 06:49 PM	#3
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,511 Karma: 236076651 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	How about Linton Heathcliff and Catherine Linton, from Wuthering Heights? Their relationship was unhappy and unsuccessful, if not immoral (other than Catherine's being forced into it). La Dame aux Camélias by Dumas would seem to have the elements you want, other than being French (but it was well-known in England). However, while I assume Marguerite Gautier, the courtesan, was older than the youthful Armand Duval, I don't know this for certain. On thought, it also has just two of your three elements: it was unsuccessful and immoral, but happy. This is a fun question!

11-12-2019, 03:08 AM	#4
Nabeel Zealot Posts: 147 Karma: 2747136 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Britain Device: Kobo Aura One	Thank you Issy. La Dame would be a good one. Someone else has also suggested Colette's Cheri. All decadent French literature!

11-12-2019, 06:05 AM	#5
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,511 Karma: 236076651 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	There's Paul Pennyfeather and Margot Beste-Chetwynde from Waugh's Decline and Fall which hits all three marks, but I don't think satire is what you had in mind!

11-12-2019, 06:27 AM	#6
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,606 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	For the psychological effects of a young man involved in loving an older woman - but not set in London - and how age and circumstance intervene, check out these two: 1) Summer of '42 - Herman Raucher (There's also a movie.) 2) A Widow for One Year - John Irving

11-12-2019, 09:44 AM	#8
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I'm not certain of their ages being different but there was Sampson and Delilah. A story that would certainly be known to your character.

11-12-2019, 04:54 PM	#13
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I was also wondering about Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare) but googled it and found that Antony was probably older than Cleo by quite a few years.

11-13-2019, 09:51 AM	#14
Doitsu Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,763 Karma: 24088559 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle PW2	How about The Graduate by Charles Webb?