The Golden Notebook

Anna is concerned that she is losing her grip on reality; her life feels out of her control. Earlier, she caught a glimpse of Ronnie in the flat; Ivor is flouting her request that Ronnie leave. Now, though, she is waiting for Richard and Molly to come over, so that they can have a kind of “conference” about the situation (507): Marion has moved out of Richard’s home, which momentarily pleases Richard, until she and Tommy are arrested at a political protest. Anna is sent to talk to Marion, and she is struck by the hypocrisy of their protest; she compares their efforts to that of her friend, the African independence leader Tom Mathlong. The consequences for Marion and Tommy are miniscule by comparison. She talks about another union leader in Africa, Charlie Themba, who “cracked up” under the stress and violence (516).

She tries to appeal to Marion’s practical sensibilities, the fact that she cannot continue to live in Molly’s house and abandon her own children. Tommy comes in, afraid that Anna is trying to talk Marion into leaving him. Marion insists that she will not return to Richard, leaving Anna and Tommy to talk alone. Anna impresses upon Tommy the importance of being supportive of Marion; if she does leave Richard, it will be a difficult