Less Is Lost

Less Is Lost begins with tension. Robert Brownburn’s death introduces conflict in the potential loss of Arthur’s home and his questioning of self. It propels the plot, spurring Arthur’s cross-country adventure, as well as his character development.

Robert haunts the text. The novel begins with his death, but his reputation and influence on Arthur looms. As long as Robert was alive, Arthur had someone he could rely on, even if from afar. With his death, Arthur is left homeless unless he can come up with the money to pay back rent on the shack. Robert’s death signifies the obliteration of Arthur’s safety net. Though he and Robert have been broken up for a long time and Arthur is now happily with Freddy, Arthur’s relationship with Robert was extremely formative. During their fifteen years together, Arthur lived under Robert’s shadow, and his own writing was eclipsed. Yet, Robert’s death doesn’t set Arthur free. With Robert, Arthur was well taken care of; he felt loved and appreciated.

Arthur finds himself in two major relationships with a significant age difference. Robert was considerably older, and Freddy is considerably younger. The age gap between he and Robert didn’t hurt their relationship, but it did inform their roles, with Robert taking on a more paternal role outlasting their romance. The shack symbolizes how Robert was a father figure: Robert had essentially given Arthur the shack to live in, knowing that Arthur is not capable of finding his own home. Robert is aware that Arthur will live in the shack with Freddy but doesn’t care. Freddy, on the other hand, cares very much. In his relationship with Arthur, Arthur takes on Robert’s role and Freddy takes on Arthur’s—there is a power imbalance. The shack represents the complexity of these love stories, but it is also a beautiful home. This suggests how home settings—as well as relationships—are imperfect.

In Part 1, Greer reveals the unusual relationship between Arthur and Marian, Robert’s wife. Marian and Arthur work together to plan and host Robert’s funeral, implying that there isn’t bad blood between them, but a friendship. Their friendship is born from having similar experiences with Robert, who was a complicated man and lover. Marian and Arthur share a past with Robert, who could only love his poetry and himself. Marian is good-natured and jovial with Arthur, and they rely on one another to get through the emotional service. Their relationship speaks to Marian’s patience and acceptance of the way life changes, and emphasizes Arthur’s kindness and sheepishness. Arthur is the type of person who is on everybody else’s ride. He didn’t seduce Robert away from Marian as much as he simply existed and went along with Robert’s pursuit of the relationship. Things happen to Arthur without his input or control. He is presented as a character with little autonomy and a great deal of fear for a life that keeps changing on him, making him beholden to other people and events.

Humor is important to the novel’s style and tone, such as when Greer plays with names. Arthur is embarrassed about his ancestry as a Walloon because it’s unbelievable and slightly ridiculous. Arthur has an ancestor named Prudent. Arthur also wants to be prudent and show care for the future, but often acts imprudently by accident. Arthur is characterized through his fumbling, awkward persona, which lends itself to comedy.

Greer uses humor to emphasize the beauty of the human experience. While serious and sad things happen as early as the first part of the novel, Greer maintains levity by pointing out life’s absurdism. Greer laughs at Arthur and the world around him so that readers can also laugh at themselves. Through comedy, Greer aims to make Arthur a loveable character whom the reader can root for. Greer treats Arthur as a lover would by having Freddy narrate. Freddy sees the humor that Arthur inspires because he is in love with Arthur and finds him adorable despite his flaws. Greer uses comedy to invite the reader to laugh at the world and fall in love with Arthur as Freddy has.

Freddy’s narration subverts the idea of an omniscient narrator. Freddy sees and intuits all. Had Greer used the past tense, the reader could imagine that Freddy is reciting what he learned from Arthur after the action of the novel. However, Greer uses the present tense. As Katie Gutierrez points out in Oprah Daily, Freddy “invites us into Less’s consciousness.” This “[begs] the question of how much of the story is faithfully reported—by Less to Freddy and by Freddy to us—and how much is imagined, reconstructed…and whether it matters.” (Gutierrez, Katie. "Andrew Sean Greer’s Less Is Lost: A Love Letter to a Gentler America—with a Big Finale.” Oprahdaily.com.)

Freddy’s perspective provides an intimacy to the narration, as well as an analysis of Arthur and the world around him. Freddy describes his own experiences with characters like Robert Brownburn, but Arthur’s story is the central narrative. Freddy puts aside his own story to celebrate and explore Arthur’s character and life. This highlights Greer’s message about The Power of Love and Choice, and the way that love can elevate a partner.