Great Circle

Jamie’s art is an attempt to paint the unpaintable. How does he use his art to express his inner contradictions?

Barclay Macqueen gives Marian everything she wants but takes whatever he pleases. To what extent is Macqueen the novel’s antagonist?

The novel splits into Hadley’s contemporary story and Marian’s biography from the past. How does this narrative structure explore the theme of art’s struggle to imitate life?

To Marian, flying is a potent symbol of freedom. How does her relationship to flying change as her freedom ebbs and flows?

How does the novel portray the difficulty of capturing or representing something as complex as a life?

Ruth and Eddie’s marriage explores the tragic reality of sexual minorities during their lifetimes. How are their lives influenced by their constant need to hide their true natures?

Marian’s flight is the physical representation of the novel’s frequent motif of circles. How does the novel use circles and the closure of circles as a recurring, meaningful motif?

To what extent is Hadley’s film an accurate portrayal of Marian’s life? Can the film ever be considered a success?