Till He Passed Avernus Outline

Underlying Theme - The paradox of a complete self. We are whole people, but we are alone, lonely, and thus incomplete beings. When we find a significant other, we feel completed, whole, as one, but the act of entering a unifying relationship costs individuality, it costs us part of ourself, thus leaving our individual being incomplete. We are forever cursed to be incomplete.

The story theme ties into the story of Adam and Eve. Adam is lonely, desires a companion, gives up his rib to make Eve. He is now complete in union, but the individual is missing a part. He halves himself to become a whole.

Story deals with the fear of the loss of the individual self for the completed union. The main character has given up the opportunity for a union in order to preserve the self. He regrets his decision and attempts to regain this union.

Stream of consciousness narrative, character is mid suicide. His significant other has already parted this world, his only opportunity for completeness is in the next world. Draws similarities to Orpheus and Eurydice.

Should focus on the looking taboo, reference to forbidden knowledge. He is unable to know both worlds, he must choose one, the individual or the union, he cannot know both. To know both would be peeking.

Focus on obsessions. Main character is obsessed with certain quirks, details, events of his time with his partner that he relives constantly during his near death experience.

Being in the bathtub could cause him to focus on everything wet. The red blood causes him to focus on red objects. Things that may not have been red or wet will be recalled as red or wet. White of the bathroom. The knocking on the door. The calling of his name from the worried friend. What about events from his relationship? His final line to his partner. I don't need you. Her final line to him. I need you.

There should be an object of his obsession, something that represents the theme of wholeness vs. incompleteness that can reoccur in his visions. Possibly something of his that he gives up for her. Represents the transition from mine to ours.

Make use of Iambic lines, repetition, rhyme. Represents the falseness in his visions. He is not experiencing reality, he is reliving from the imagination.

I am We. But We are not I. We can have no I.

Be sure to press the loss of identity, the fear of losing identity, the risk of losing identity, but also the gains of the union.

Decide on target points that will trigger his transition from reality to his memory and back. Should be based on his obsessive objects.

Who is the narrator talking to? Himself? the person at the door? His deceased lover? God?
His dialogue is addressed to his lover. Its a confession, too late to save her life, but he hopes that he can somehow save her by confessing anyway. Just like his perception transfers between reality and memory, his lines will transfer between the person at the door and his lover, depending on who he thinks he is with at the moment.

Key Scenes:
I. The beginning of the suicide attempt in the bathroom.
II. Establishing the object of his affection.
III. Establishing the nature of their relationship
IV. Establishing his loss.
V. His revelation.