The Marriage Plot is a very different book about the love triangle among three recent Ivy League grads: Apparently beautiful Madeline, who never has to fight for male attention; charming but mentally ill Leonard; and spiritually questioning Mitchell.
It is hard to like Madeline, the pretty girl who can have any guy she wants but falls for and marries Leonard, who is the worst kind of manic depressive. He loves his manic episodes and adjusts his medication accordingly, against his doctor's guidance. Mitchell meanwhile is grounded but head over heels for Madeline. Madeline exploits this unrequited love, taking advantage of his always available shower of affection whenever she needs her ego propped up during her difficult points in her relationship with Leonard.
Leonard and Mitchell have a conversation about their respective spiritual quests that seems to deeply affect both of them. Mitchell comes to respect Leonard and understand why Madeline married him. Leonard leaves Madeline and disappears. Mitchell initially thinks he and Madeline will finally be lovers. But when they have sex, Mitchell realizes it is part of Madeline's selfish process of forgetting Leonard. The sex is unfulfilling for Mitchell as he realizes Madeline was an early ideal to him that not longer fits. I walk away form this ending with respect for Mitchell and a sense of optimism now that he can move on with his life.
