Marlene Character Analysis in The Buddha of Suburbia

Marlene is Matthew Pyke's wife. She and Pyke are very open and adventurous sexually, and they regularly participate in group sex events all over the world. When she expresses interest in having sex with Karim, Pyke invites Karim and Eleanor to their home. Though Karim does have sex with Marlene, he finds her brash, annoying, and unattractive and he sees that Pyke feels the same way about his wife.

Marlene Quotes in The Buddha of Suburbia

The The Buddha of Suburbia quotes below are all either spoken by Marlene or refer to Marlene. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

With their poking into life's odd corners, Pyke and Marlene seemed to me to be more like intrepid journalists than swimmers in the sensual. Their desire to snuggle up to real life betrayed a basic separation from it. And their obsession with how the world worked just seemed another form of self-obsession.

Related Characters: Karim (speaker), Matthew Pyke, Marlene

Page Number and Citation: 191

Explanation and Analysis:

When Karim's bike chain breaks, Pyke begins giving Karim rides home from rehearsal and talks at length about his sexual exploits while they drive. First, it's worth noting that the particulars of Pyke and Marlene's sex life are made possible by the progressive changes and cultural shifts that happened in the sixties and continued into the seventies; they're very much a product of their time. Despite this and however entrenched in the social mores of the time they might be, their wealth keeps them somewhat separated from the realities of life. Pyke's interest in having sex with such a variety Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti s

Marlene Character Timeline in The Buddha of Suburbia

The timeline below shows where the character Marlene appears in The Buddha of Suburbia. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...many different jobs as possible. He's especially interested in women in office and his wife, Marlene, joins him in these endeavors. Karim finds this very exciting, though he thinks Pyke's desire... (full context)

One day, Pyke generously tells Karim that he has a present for Karim: Marlene wants to have sex with him. Karim isn't flattered and doesn't want to seem ungrateful,... (full context)

...Karim and Eleanor in, seats them in the living room, and explains that Pyke and Marlene are "dressing." Eleanor wonders why Pyke invited them over and haughtily tells Karim that they... (full context)

...have underestimated Pyke's wealth, as the furnishings are extremely expensive. Eleanor returns as Pyke and Marlene make their way down the stairs. Karim thinks that Marlene is undeniably sexual, but definitely... (full context)

...goes to. The boy, as Terry predicted, attends a very prestigious school. Karim notices that Marlene and Pyke look bored to death. (full context)

...stands and opens the doors to the backyard. Eleanor stands and follows him out, leaving Marlene inside with Karim. Marlene gets herself another drink and comes to sit beside Karim. He... (full context)

Karim and Marlene sit for a while, and then Marlene asks Karim for a kiss. He panics, but... (full context)

Marlene walks around Pyke and Eleanor, exclaiming about what a beautiful couple they are. Pyke snaps... (full context)

...to steal for Terry and the Party, but he doesn't know what anything is worth. Marlene comes in, dressed for painting, and unenthusiastically asks Karim for a kiss. She makes him... (full context)

Karim asks Pyke if they can deal with his matter now, and Marlene insults Pyke as she leaves the room. Karim explains to Pyke that he's working for... (full context)

Marlene Character Analysis

Marlene Quotes in The Buddha of Suburbia

Part 2, Chapter 12 Quotes

Marlene Character Timeline in The Buddha of Suburbia