Endless Love

David’s father, Arthur Axelrod emerges as one of the most sympathetic characters in Endless Love. A former communist, Arthur is depicted as a “left-wing lawyer—meaning that he would never defend a rich man against a poor man and he didn’t charge his clients fancy fees” (17). David describes his father as a man who pours his heart into his work, and who “truly longed to defend the weak against the strong” (17). However, while Arthur’s passion for his profession is undeniable, he remains emotionally distant and dispassionate at home.

Arthur’s marriage to Rose is characterized by unrequited love. Though Arthur loves his wife deeply, Rose manipulates her affection, offering it only when Arthur meets her expectations. This dynamic leaves Arthur emotionally unfulfilled, yet he stays committed to the marriage for many years. His eventual affair with Barbara Sherwood represents a desperate attempt to find the emotional connection he lacks at home. After Barbara’s death, Arthur returns to Rose. However, their relationship quickly falls back into its dysfunctional pattern, underscoring Arthur’s inability to break free from his own patterns of emotional neglect.

Arthur’s struggle to communicate effectively with his family further exacerbates their emotional distance. Although he often serves as a referee in the heated arguments between Rose and David, he fails to address the underlying issues fueling their conflicts. Instead of fostering open communication, Arthur passively allows the tension to persist, reflecting his broader tendency to avoid confrontation in his personal life.

Arthur also withholds parts of himself from David, believing that shielding his son from certain realities will protect him. He discourages David from befriending the children of his Communist associates, fearing these relationships might complicate David’s life. However, this well-intentioned advice has the opposite effect, pushing David into isolation. By preventing David from forming connections with peers who might understand his background, Arthur inadvertently contributes to David’s loneliness and emotional detachment.

Arthur’s failures as a husband and father stem from his inability to balance his professional and personal lives. While he fiercely advocates for the downtrodden in his work, he fails to provide the same support and understanding to his own family. His emotional withdrawal from Rose and David, coupled with his reluctance to confront the dysfunction in his marriage, traps him in a cycle of unfulfillment. In the end, Arthur’s character exemplifies how a lack of emotional engagement can lead to personal and familial dysfunction. Despite his good intentions, Arthur’s inability to connect with those he loves most contributes to the tragedy of the Axelrod family.

Like the other female characters in Endless Love, Rose Axelrod, David’s mother, grapples with a deep sense of dissatisfaction and unfulfilled desires. Her initial marriage to a wealthy man, whom she adored, ended in heartbreak, leaving her bitter and disillusioned. Rose’s decision to hire Arthur as her divorce attorney led to an unexpected turn when Arthur, smitten with her, negotiated a divorce settlement that left her with no financial restitution. While this freed Rose from her ex-husband’s influence, it also deepened her bitterness, as she had nothing tangible from a love she cherished deeply.

Rose’s role as a mother is fraught with tension and disconnection from her son. Her fear of over-mothering leads her to the opposite extreme, where she barely mothers David. This emotional distance creates a chasm between them, leading to frequent arguments and a lack of understanding. Rose is not a traditional maternal figure, and her motherhood approach reflects her unresolved issues and dissatisfaction with her life. Despite this, she does care for David, but her inability to express this love in a nurturing way further alienates him.

Emotional complexity and unresolved tension define Rose and Arthur’s relationship. Rose, in an attempt to maintain control within their marriage, weaponizes her affection: “There had been a time when Rose had felt she could protect her position in the marriage, and protect her privacy, by simply [...] withholding her love” (71). This manipulation of affection ultimately backfires. Arthur finds solace elsewhere, leading to his affair. Rose’s approach to love is asexual and aromantic, which clashes with Arthur’s need for a romantic and sexual relationship.

Despite these challenges, Rose still cares for Arthur in her own way. After Barbara’s death, she accepts Arthur back, stating, “I like being with Arthur. He’s my best friend” (369). This admission reveals the bond they share despite Rose’s absence of romantic or sexual love. However, rekindling their relationship does not bring about any real change or growth; instead, it falls back into old, dysfunctional patterns. The emotional distance between them remains evident, as seen in the way they communicate—or rather, fail to communicate: “Now, when one of my parents spoke, the other looked away and gave no evidence of listening” (400).

Rose’s relationship with Arthur becomes one of mutual tolerance rather than genuine intimacy. She becomes protective of him, perhaps out of loyalty or companionship, but their interactions lack the warmth and connection that characterize a healthy marriage. This dynamic highlights the novel’s exploration of the complexities of love and how people navigate relationships that do not fulfill all their emotional needs. In the end, Rose and Arthur’s marriage is a portrait of two people who, despite their deep connection, are unable to fully meet each other’s needs, leaving them both in a state of unfulfillment.

Jade Butterfield, David’s ex-girlfriend and the object of his obsession, is 15 at the beginning of the novel, the only daughter of the Butterfield family. Jade is referenced throughout the novel though she only appears as an adult in the final a quarter of it. In many ways, Jade and David are foils for one another. Both have parents who alternate between neglect and over-attention. Both exhibit personality mirroring, so defining their personality, likes, and dislikes is difficult. At times, Jade is social, at other times reserved. Sometimes, Jade appears docile and easily swayed by others; at others, she is snappish and stubborn. Like David, Jade is defined by their shared love and admits that love will always influence her. At the same time, Jade tries to define herself without David’s influence, making her a foil for David’s spiraling obsession.

Jade has a complex relationship with her family, and their permissive yet inconsistent parenting style creates an environment of both freedom and instability. Her parents, Ann and Hugh, oscillate between encouraging Jade’s independence and exerting control over her life, which leaves Jade struggling to establish a clear sense of self. This push and pull within her family life mirrors the internal conflict she experiences in her relationship with David. While she is deeply in love with him, she is also aware of the need to carve out her own identity separate from their bond. Jade feels guilty that David’s violent actions toward her family are a result of her conflicting feelings toward them.

Just as David harbors an idealized version of Jade, Jade holds an equally distorted, though decidedly less flattering, perception of David. Jade, along with the rest of the Butterfield family, is quick to believe the worst of him. They are convinced that David intended to kill them by starting the fire, though this was far from his intention. They also believe that David “lured” Hugh to his death when, in reality, he was trying to escape. While Jade occasionally appears to grasp David’s true character and flaws, she often sees him as far more violent and calculating than he is.

Jade’s efforts to define herself apart from David are most evident in her moments of resistance. Despite her deep love for him, there are times when she seeks to distance herself, aware of the dangers of their codependent relationship. Though temporary, her decision to end their relationship marks a pivotal moment in the novel. It underscores her growing awareness of self-preservation and her desire to explore life beyond the confines of their obsessive love. As a college student, Jade discovers her passion for studying animals in a holistic rather than purely scientific way. Eventually, she emigrates from the United States, moves overseas, and marries a Frenchman. These actions signify her growth and a deliberate attempt to create both emotional and physical distance from David.

Ann Butterfield, Jade’s mother, emerges as a multifaceted character whose complex relationship with David adds depth to the novel’s exploration of love and obsession. David describes Ann as “unique, unduplicatable, wry, secure, haughty, vulnerable” (188), highlighting the challenges David faces in defining her.

Ann’s relationship with David is distinct from that of the other Butterfields. While the rest of the family responds to David with hostility and avoidance, Ann engages with him more openly. She is the first member of the Butterfield family to maintain contact with David after the fire, but she has a strained relationship with her children, especially Jade. Ann feels conflicted about her divorce from Hugh, as she loves Hugh but harbors a lot of resentment toward him.

As a writer, Ann expresses herself most effectively through her writing. Her long letters to David—often extending over 10 pages—offer an intimate glimpse into her thoughts, emotions, and daily life. These letters reflect her intellectual and emotional depth and her struggle to articulate her complex feelings. Ann’s writing becomes a medium through which she seeks to connect with David, revealing her vulnerability and longing for a deeper relationship.

Ann’s attempt to seduce David further complicates her character. When David rejects her advances, Ann is both surprised and embarrassed. This incident reveals her willingness to cross boundaries and the strength of the fantasies that guide her actions. Her admission of fantasizing about making love to David while Jade and David are together underscores her profound yearning and the blurred lines between her desires and her role as a mother.

By the novel’s end, Ann experiences significant personal growth. Her writing career begins to flourish, reflecting her ability to channel her emotional turmoil into productive and creative endeavors. Ann’s success in her professional life contrasts with the earlier tumultuous phases of her personal life, symbolizing her resilience and capacity for reinvention.