What may lead to toxic relationships?
In the novel Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen, toxic relationships are explored in that between Marlena, the girl of Jacob’s dreams, who is married to Jacob’s boss, August. August is a paranoid schizophrenic, which leads to violent and unpredictable mood swings. Marlena found him to be charming and charismatic when she first met him, but first saw his other side 3 weeks after he convinced her to leave behind her life to marry him and travel with the circus. August often gets angry and violent when there is problems with the circus or his personal life. For example, when Rosie the elephant refuses to obey his commands and causes mischief in the circus, he beats her repeatedly and is a terror to be around. However, he changes his tune when Jacob, the show’s vetrenarian, figures out that Rosie speaks polish. As they are able to put together a spectacular routine that is sure to wow the audience, August is good-natured and optimistic; he becomes patient with all those around him and becomes someone easy to be around as opposed to someone to avoid. Marlena expresses her frustration at this, as she thinks she should’ve been the one who would be able to calm him down, but to no avail. August’s frequent outbursts leave him incapable of sympathy and compassion, which leaves Marlena feeling isolated and scared. The final straw in the breakdown of their marriage is when August bevcomes suspicious of Jacob and Marlena having an affair, and he hurts her physically. Without being able to take comfort in her husband she does begins an affair with Jacob and they plot to run away together. The toxic relationship between August and Marlena is filled with confusion, frustration, anger and dishonesty, but the root of it all is found in August’s lack of compassion and empathy for others, be it his fault or not.