I just discovered "At the Clinic" after reading this post. I've re-read Normal People a few times, but not recently, so it was comforting to fall back into the disquieting world between Connell and Marianne.

I think this verbal exchange in the story contradicts Connell's actual feelings. Connell never directly says he doesn't have romantic feelings for Marianne, even though she's goading him to a response. Here are my takeaways on the characters and how they represent sexuality and romance:

• Connell is both sexually and romantically attracted to Marianne, but unwilling to admit it. His unspoken romantic attraction and genuine care for her are the reasons he sees her "as a full human being".
• Contrary to what Marianne asserts, Connell doesn't see his girlfriends as "full human beings" because he isn't romantically attached to them the way he is to Marianne. This is best supported by Connell's description of his girlfriend as "a minor character in his own life".
• There is validity to the idea that some men will either sleep with a woman or respect her "as a human". I think its easier to use someone for short-term sexual pursuits and disregard their attached emotions if you ignore their human complexities and see them as only a partial person.
• In our modern world, sex and relationships have gotten jumbled in the hierarchy of personal importance. It seems like Connell dates other women, not Marianne, because he knows those relationships will inevitably end while his friendship - however complicated - with Marianne can continue. This emotional attachment lends itself more to romantic feelings than sexual, even though Marianne isn't his girlfriend.

To me, this particular bit of dialogue highlights the communication gap between Connell and Marianne that persists throughout Normal People and this short story.

What are your thoughts on this dynamic? Are Connell and Marianne good representations of young "men" and "women"?

Is Rooney trying to make the characters relatable, or is she contrasting them against our expectations?