Discussion Question #2- Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Question: Evaluate Nick's reasoning for why he supposedly loved Tris, while she was not a good girlfriend and did not love him back.

Nick with his ex, Tris

   Nick loved Tris because he was longing to feel what love was like so desperately, that he convinced himself  that he was in love with her. Nick is a sensitive character, and allowed himself to fall for Tris, his ex, who in return did not treat him well and ended up breaking his heart. He had significant trouble getting over her, and no one really understood why because she was not even a good person. Tris treated Nick poorly and did not take their relationship seriously. Nick was ready for a serious relationship, and threw all of his emotions into the whirlwind of Tris. One example of Nick being sincere while Tris takes advantage of him, is when Nick writes a song for Tris and she simply makes fun of  him with her friends. After meeting Norah, Nick realizes what actual love feels like. Although he does not know Norah that well, she puts time, effort, and emotion into their time together. Nick comes into realization that he did not truly love Tris when he was with her, and that he was in love with the feeling of being in love with someone. He craved being in a committed relationship so dearly, that he brainwashed himself into believing that he was in love. Nick expresses to Norah,"It was about the feeling...She caused it in me, but it wasn't about her. It was about my reaction, what I wanted to feel and then convinced myself that I felt, because I wanted it that bad. That illusion. It was love because I created it as love"(138). Nick admits that his feelings of compassion were not from being with Tris, but they arose because he wanted to feel what it was like to love someone that he imagined it. Although some readers may argue that Nick and Tris did have a serious relationship and that Tris truly did love Nick back, the text suggests otherwise. Now that Nick has met Norah and cares for her deeply in a two- sided partnership, he can finally move on from Tris. Now he does not have to yearn for what love feels like, but he can actually feel it himself with someone who cares about him as well.

Nick with Norah

Nick and Norah, the perfect couple