Alan is Marianne’s older brother, who still lives at home with their mother. He’s verbally and physically abusive to Marianne, often looking for ways to get into arguments with her. Not all of these arguments end in violence, but he always manages to at least say something hurtful about her. When she’s living at home for the summer in one of her final years of college, he chases her into her room and then opens the door so hard that it slams into her face and possibly breaks her nose. After she calls Connell for help, he comes and tells Marianne to get in the car, and then he threatens to kill Alan if he ever hurts Marianne again. Crying in fear, Alan tells Connell that he understands—he won’t touch her again.
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Alan (Marianne’s Brother) Character Timeline in Normal People
The timeline below shows where the character Alan (Marianne’s Brother) appears in Normal People. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
2. Three Weeks Later (February 2011)
Marianne prepares to go out. As she puts on some lip balm, her brother, Alan, approaches and asks where she’s going. He becomes aggressive in his questioning, suspicious of her...
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Now, after having escaped Alan and his domineering ways, Marianne arrives at Connell’s house. It’s small and has a yard...
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6. Four Months Later (August 2011)
Marianne sunbathes in the garden at her house while her brother, Alan, yells out what other people got on their Leaving Cert. She hasn’t eaten much today—like...
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As a joke, Alan asks Connell if he wants to talk to Marianne, thinking he’ll say no because Marianne...
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Still in the garden, Alan stands over Marianne and asks if she’s mad that Connell scored better than her on...
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Alan tells Marianne not to say anything about their interaction to their mother. She immediately agrees....
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9. Two Months Later (April 2012)
...He knew she doesn’t get along with them, especially when it comes to her brother, Alan. But Marianne didn’t talk about it much after coming back, except to say that her...
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12. Four Months Later (January 2013)
Marianne had a terrible time over the winter break. Alan followed her around the house, constantly looking for ways to get into fights. At one...
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13. Six Months Later (July 2013)
...could be like “normal people.” She tells Connell that her family hates her, saying that Alan told her to kill herself the last time she was home. Connell sits up, angry,...
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...can’t believe what he’s hearing. He wants to know why Marianne never told him that Alan was abusive, and she says she didn’t want him to think she was “damaged.” Connell...
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16. Four Months Later (July 2014)
Marianne has been living at home for the summer. Alan has a job working for the county council, so he’s not home much. When he...
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When Marianne gets home, Alan confronts her. He doesn’t want her hanging out with Connell anymore since, according to him,...
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17. Five Minutes Later (July 2014)
...this makes Connell’s vision swarm. She says she thinks her nose is broken, and then Alan appears behind her.
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...seat. Connell then steps inside the house and closes the door. He walks up to Alan, who insists he didn’t do anything. Alan is against the railing of the stairs and...
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