Ivor’s theatrical lover, Ronnie, moves into Anna’s flat without warning in the third section of Free Women. Anna hates his vanity and effeminacy, which she sees as a parody of women and “‘normal’ love.” Despite her fears that nobody else would take him in and his attempts to ingratiate her, Anna kicks Ronnie out of the apartment at the end of the section, but he briefly returns in the following portion of Free Women.
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Ronnie Character Timeline in The Golden Notebook
The timeline below shows where the character Ronnie appears in The Golden Notebook. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Free Women: 3
...it means the “whole area of tension” with men like Michael and Richard. Ivor’s friend Ronnie has “moved into Ivor’s room and to his bed,” and Anna does not much care,...
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...might be a stronger version of the “cold evasive emotion” straight men feel for women. Ronnie is singing, seemingly “mocking ‘normal’ love,” and Anna worries about “all this” affecting Janet. He...
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...has to bring Janet dinner. When she does, Janet asks whether Anna likes Ivor and Ronnie—Anna says she does like them, but Janet knows she actually despises Ronnie, “because he makes...
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Anna decides that Ronnie is the problem and figures she will tell Ivor to get rid of him. She...
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Anna finds Ronnie using her lotion in the bathroom, wearing expensive clothes that suggest “he should be in...
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...when Anna mentions the coming evictions, but she does ask to go to boarding school. Ronnie mentions that perhaps he could help with shopping.
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That night, Ivor asks that only Ronnie leave, and Anna agrees. Ronnie makes a scene that leads Anna to feel like “a...
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Free Women: 4
Exhausted and irritated that Ronnie has seemingly moved back into the flat without permission, Anna waits for Molly and Richard...
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