allowing emotional bonds to form. She prides herself on her independence and doesn't see the need to become emotionally close to the Gunnarsens.Maggie's relationships with the Gunnarsens and Vardoe can be viewed at representative of the majority of the relationships she maintains throughout her life. These relationships exist only on a superficial level and never develop on an emotional level. There is one exception to this trend. This exception is Nell Severance. Nell is the mother of Maggie's friend Hilda. The relationship between Nell and Maggie does develop on an emotional level. Maggie cares a great deal for Nell and never ceases to communicate. This relationship is the one anomaly in a life that is filled with superficial relationships.Dunstan, much like Maggie, travels through life maintaining relationships that lack in substance. Dunstan maintains many relationships built upon intellectual foundations but rarely, if ever, maintains a relationship built upon a foundation of intimacy. Dunstan continuously travels throughout his life and makes many acquaintances. For the purposes of this essay his relationships with Diane and Boy Staunton will be examined.While Dunstan is hospitalized after his efforts in the war he meets a nurse named Diane. Over the course of his stay in the hospital and after his release Dunstan's relationship with Diane continuously progresses. To both parties it seems as though the relationship is a romantic one. -4-To the reader it becomes evident that this is not so. Although both Dunstan and Diane may have believed the relationship was built upon higher emotion they were mistaken. each member of the relationship used the other for personal reasons. Dunstan used Diane as a crutch. She nursed him back to health physical and eventually mentally. Dunstan used his relationship with Diane as a means to restore his confidence and dignity, along with his sense of self worth. On the other hand, D...
