In The Beautiful and Damned, Anthony grows up with a fear of desertion. By the time he was eleven years old, both of his parents had died and he had grown a feeling of detachment. When Anthony goes to visit his grandfather (whom Anthony depends on to inherit millions of dollars), Anthony tells him, “I’m best qualified to write […] history’ […] ‘Middle Ages? Why not your own country”(20). …show more content…
In The Beautiful and Damned, Gloria has a string of relationships in her younger years, which result in her inability to value true love over lust. As a consequence, this causes a lot of mental tensions later in their marriage. The fact that she had many boyfriends is found out when Gloria 's mother, Mrs. Gilbert, says, “She knew there had been a string of affairs spread over about three years, perhaps a dozen of them altogether […] they lasted on an average of several months each” (p.71). This tells the reader that Gloria does not have any experience with true love and that she bases her relationships off of lust. Also, when Anthony goes to visit Gloria, He does not know anything about her, except that she is very pretty. This eventually leads to a lot of tensions and hatred later on in their relationship, because they are not a suitable couple. However, the pair 's relationship does not only start because of lust, but it almost dies because of it too. After they get engaged, their love quickly dies out. In the novel, it is stated, “The breathless idyll of their engagement gave way first, to the intense romance of the more passionate relationship” (132). Which means that they lack true love and rely solely on lust. Later on in the novel, Anthony does not inherit the money which he promises Gloria. This causes turbulence in the love between the couple, as there is no longer anything …show more content…
In The Beautiful and Damned, hatred is the most prevalent factor of Anthony and Gloria 's turbulent relationship. Throughout the novel, their mutual hatred grows stronger and stronger. When it is Gloria 's birthday, Anthony chooses to go out with his friends, rather than spending time with his wife. When it is stated, "The letter crinkled tightly in her hand […] This was her twenty-ninth birthday, and the world was melting away before her eyes" (p.291) it is described that Gloria realizes Anthony will not be there for her birthday. As a result, she finally feels true anger towards Anthony for neglecting her. In addition to Gloria hating her husband, Anthony also grows a genuine hatred for Gloria. This hatred goes a long way; since later in the story, it is amplified by the fact that Anthony is unable to provide the inheritance money he had promised Gloria. This intense hate is shown when the couple have a verbal dispute, "Hit me! ' She implored him-wildly, stupidly […] 'I 'll kill you! ' He cried. 'If you don 't get out I 'll kill you!" (p.355-356) Anthony and Gloria have been married for a while at this point and show the effects of their weathered relationship. The destruction of their relationship is a direct result of the effects of the lust dying off and a lack of