The Writing of Eros in the Irish Millennial Generation in Normal People

Authors

  • Jingtong Xu School of Chinese Language and Literature, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202608_9(8).0007

Keywords:

Sally Rooney; Normal People; intimate relationships; the dilemma of eros.

Abstract

Irish emerging writer Sally Rooney’s second novel, Normal People, tells the story of a romantic relationship, from their high school life to their university years, between Marianne and Connell, two Irish youths. Indeed, under the surface of the love story lies a contemplation on how individuals establish intimate relationships against the Modern existential crisis. Based on the examination of the intimacy between the two lovers, this paper investigates the dilemma of eros, which is commonly seen among the Irish millennial, and further proposes possible approaches to the construction of intimate relationships in the new era.

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References

[1] Rooney, S. (2020). Normal people (Z. Na, Trans.). Shanghai Translation Publishing House.

[2] Ren, N. (2022). The crisis of narcissistic culture in "Normal People". Foreign Literature Dynamics, 49–57.

[3] Pang, S. F. (2010). Love of the soul: A self-tutorial on love, sex, marriage, and friendship (X. Z. Peng, Trans.). Guangxi Normal University Press.

[4] Han, B. C. (2019). The agony of eros (S. Song, Trans.). CITIC Press.

[5] Wang, M. A. (2022). On eros. Nanjing University Press.

[6] Fromm, E. (1987). The art of loving (J. M. Li, Trans.). The Commercial Press.

[7] Chen, L. (2021). Emotional expression in times of crisis: A survey of Irish literature in 2020. Foreign Literature Dynamics, 61–69.

[8] Barros Del Río, M. A. (2022). Sally Rooney’s "Normal People": The millennial novel of formation in recessionary Ireland. Irish Studies Review.

[9] Luca, G. (2021). Literary heterotopia: The inventor of love (G. J. Wei, Trans.). Guangxi People’s Publishing House.

[10] Plato. (2017). The symposium (T. Q. Wang, Trans.). The Commercial Press.

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Published

2026-08-12

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Xu, J. (2026). The Writing of Eros in the Irish Millennial Generation in Normal People. International Journal of Social Science and Education Research, 9(8), 67-72. https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202608_9(8).0007