Péter Tamás: Courtly Love in Paul Auster’s Screenplay Adaptation of The Inner Life of Martin Frost

Article

DOI 10.51313/Freeside-2024-07

The present article compares the extended screenplay version of The Inner Life of Martin Frost with its shorter, prose version from The Book of Illusions with a focus on their depiction of love. The new material in the screenplay reverses the apparent happy ending of the novelistic version, as Claire is consistently placed outside Martin’s reach. This allows Paul Auster an alternate way to communicate ideas that the novel suggests by juxtaposing Martin’s tale with other narrative layers. The new ending, where Martin is forbidden from looking at Claire directly but allowed to gaze at her in mirrors, resonates with Jacques Lacan’s and Slavoj Žižek’s analysis of courtly love, according to which women function as the Freudian “Thing” in amorous relationships. Despite this, Martin’s love is not without a healing aspect.