Something Borrowed

By Emily Giffin

Introduction — Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed is a captivating romantic comedy that dives into the complexities of friendship, love, and personal choices. Published in 2005, the novel marks Giffin’s debut and quickly became a bestseller, celebrated for its engaging storytelling and relatable characters. 📚💕 Giffin, an American author known for her insightful and often humorous take on contemporary relationships, uses this book to explore the moral and emotional dilemmas faced by her characters. Set in New York City, the novel navigates the intricate dynamics of personal betrayal and self-discovery.

Plot Summary

Plot Summary

ExpositionThe story begins with Rachel White, a 30-year-old attorney, feeling discontented with her life. Rachel’s best friend, Darcy Rhone, is about to marry Dex Thornton, Rachel’s college crush. Despite being the maid of honor, Rachel is conflicted by her lingering feelings for Dex, which she has kept hidden for years.

Rising Action — As the wedding approaches, Rachel and Dex unexpectedly reconnect and spend time together, rekindling their old romantic feelings. Their growing attraction leads to an affair, complicating Rachel’s relationship with Darcy and causing Rachel to question her values and decisions.

ClimaxThe climax occurs when Darcy discovers the affair and confronts Rachel. This confrontation is emotionally charged, highlighting the betrayal and the impact it has on their friendships and relationships. Rachel must face the consequences of her actions and the reality of her choices.

Falling Action — Rachel deals with the fallout from the affair, including the strain it puts on her relationships with her friends and family. She navigates the aftermath of her decisions and begins to reflect on what she truly wants out of life and love.

ResolutionThe novel concludes with Rachel making peace with her past actions and moving forward. She starts a new chapter in her life, embracing the possibility of new relationships and personal growth, having learned valuable lessons from her experiences.

Character Analysis

Character Analysis

  • Rachel WhiteThe protagonist, Rachel, is a successful but emotionally conflicted attorney. She grapples with her feelings for Dex and her guilt over betraying her best friend. Throughout the novel, Rachel evolves from a passive character to one who takes control of her own happiness and makes decisions aligned with her true desires.
  • Dex Thornton — Dex is the charming and successful lawyer who is engaged to Darcy but finds himself drawn to Rachel. Dex’s character is marked by his internal conflict and moral dilemmas, and his choices drive much of the novel’s tension.
  • Darcy Rhone — Darcy, Rachel’s best friend, is portrayed as glamorous and self-absorbed. Her character provides a sharp contrast to Rachel’s introspection, and her reaction to the betrayal adds significant drama to the story.

Character Analysis Summary:

CharacterPersonality TraitsMotivationsDevelopment
Rachel WhiteConflicted, introspective, sincereDesire for genuine love, self-fulfillmentGrows from passive to proactive, seeking her own happiness
Dex ThorntonCharming, conflicted, indecisiveAttraction to Rachel, moral dilemmasStruggles with his choices, ultimately seeking resolution
Darcy RhoneSelf-absorbed, glamorous, confrontationalMaintaining her perfect image, betrayal responseExperiences emotional turmoil, leading to personal growth

Themes and Symbols

Themes and Symbols

Themes:

  • Betrayal and ForgivenessThe novel explores the impact of betrayal on relationships, particularly focusing on the consequences of Rachel’s affair with Dex and the potential for forgiveness and redemption.
  • Friendship and LoyaltyThe tension between Rachel and Darcy highlights the complexities of friendship, especially when tested by romantic entanglements and personal choices.
  • Self-Discovery and Personal Growth — Rachel’s journey is also one of self-discovery. She learns about her own desires and values, moving towards a greater understanding of herself and what she wants from life.
  • Romantic DilemmasThe novel delves into the intricacies of romantic relationships, examining the choices people make and the consequences that follow.

Symbols:

  • The Wedding — Represents the societal expectations of relationships and the personal conflicts that arise when individuals confront their own desires versus societal norms.
  • The Apartment — Symbolizes Rachel’s personal space and emotional state. The changes in her apartment reflect her internal transformation throughout the story.
  • The Borrowed Items — Symbolize the personal and emotional “borrowing” of feelings and relationships, reflecting the novel’s exploration of ownership and identity in romantic connections.

Style and Tone

Style and Tone

  • Conversational and Engaging — Giffin’s writing style is conversational, making it easy for readers to relate to the characters and their experiences. The informal tone contributes to the novel’s accessibility and appeal.
  • Humorous and Lighthearted — Despite the serious themes, the novel is infused with humor and wit, which balances the emotional weight of the story and provides a lighter reading experience.
  • Introspective and EmotionalThe tone shifts to introspective and emotional as Rachel navigates her internal conflicts and the fallout from her actions. This shift adds depth to the character’s personal journey.
  • Realistic and Relatable — Giffin’s realistic portrayal of relationships and personal dilemmas makes the story relatable, allowing readers to connect with the characters’ experiences and emotions.

Literary Devices used in Something Borrowed

  1. Dialogue — Reveals character dynamics and advances the plot through conversations.
  2. Internal Monologue — Provides insight into Rachel’s thoughts and emotional conflicts.
  3. Flashbacks — Offers background information and context for characters’ current situations.
  4. Foreshadowing — Hints at future events and developments in the story.
  5. Irony — Highlights contrasts between expectations and reality, often adding humor or depth.
  6. Symbolism — Uses symbols to represent broader themes and ideas in the narrative.
  7. Character Development — Shows how characters evolve over time in response to their experiences.
  8. Setting — Creates the mood and supports the themes through detailed descriptions of locations.
  9. Conflict — Drives the plot through the tensions and challenges faced by the characters.
  10. Theme — Explores central ideas and messages that resonate throughout the novel.

Literary Devices Examples

Dialogue

ExampleExplanation
“Rachel, you’re my best friend. How could you?”Conveys Darcy’s emotional response and the tension in their relationship.
“I never thought I’d end up here, with you, Dex.”Reveals Rachel’s internal conflict and the complexity of her feelings for Dex.
“What are we doing, Rachel? This isn’t right.”Highlights Dex’s moral struggle and the impact of their actions on their relationship.

Internal Monologue

ExampleExplanation
“I can’t believe I’m here, in this situation. How did I get so lost?”Provides insight into Rachel’s confusion and self-reflection.
“Every decision I’ve made has led me to this moment. What do I really want?”Reveals Rachel’s contemplation of her choices and desires.
“Darcy will never forgive me. What have I done?”Shows Rachel’s regret and concern about the consequences of her actions.

Flashbacks

ExampleExplanation
“I remember the first time I saw Dex in college…”Provides background on Rachel and Dex’s past relationship and their current feelings.
“When Darcy and I were inseparable in our twenties…”Offers context for Rachel and Darcy’s friendship and the depth of their bond.
“The day Dex proposed to Darcy was supposed to be perfect…”Highlights the significance of the wedding and the conflict between Rachel’s feelings and reality.

Foreshadowing

ExampleExplanation
“Rachel had a sinking feeling that things were about to change.”Hints at upcoming conflict and the impact of Rachel’s actions.
“The way Dex looked at Rachel made her uneasy, as if he was hiding something.”Suggests the future revelation of the affair and its consequences.
“Darcy’s perfect wedding plans seemed too good to be true.”Foreshadows the disruption of Darcy’s ideal vision by the novel’s events.

Irony

ExampleExplanation
“Rachel, the maid of honor, ends up being the one who disrupts the wedding.”Ironically contrasts Rachel’s supportive role with her actions that create chaos.
“Dex and Rachel find love in their secret affair, while Darcy is left in the dark.”Highlights the irony of finding true feelings through deception.
“Rachel wanted to do the right thing but ended up causing more harm.”Shows the irony of Rachel’s good intentions leading to unintended negative consequences.

Symbolism

ExampleExplanation
“The wedding dress”Symbolizes the idealized vision of romance and the personal conflicts that arise.
“Rachel’s apartment”Represents her personal growth and emotional state throughout the story.
“The borrowed items”Symbolize the themes of ownership and the emotional complexities of relationships.

Character Development

ExampleExplanation
“Rachel’s transformation from passive to proactive reflects her journey toward self-discovery.”Shows how Rachel evolves as

a character and gains clarity about her desires. |
| “Dex’s internal struggle highlights his moral conflict and growth.” | Demonstrates Dex’s development and his eventual resolution of his ethical dilemmas. |
| “Darcy’s response to betrayal leads to her personal growth and understanding.” | Illustrates Darcy’s emotional journey and the impact of the conflict on her character. |

Setting

ExampleExplanation
“New York City”Creates a backdrop that emphasizes the characters’ social and personal dynamics.
“Rachel’s office”Reflects her professional life and personal conflicts.
“The wedding venue”Represents the central conflict and the ideal of romantic perfection that is challenged.

Conflict

ExampleExplanation
“Rachel’s affair with Dex”Drives the primary conflict between Rachel and Darcy and within Rachel herself.
“The tension between Rachel and Darcy”Creates emotional and relational conflicts that drive the plot.
“Dex’s struggle with his feelings and commitment”Adds to the narrative tension and explores the complexities of romantic relationships.

Theme

ExampleExplanation
“The theme of betrayal”Central to the novel, highlighting the consequences of Rachel’s affair and its impact on relationships.
“The theme of self-discovery”Explores Rachel’s journey toward understanding her true desires and values.
“The theme of friendship”Examines the dynamics between Rachel and Darcy and the impact of betrayal on their bond.

FAQs

Something Borrowed – FAQs

Q: What is the primary conflict in Something Borrowed?

A: The primary conflict is Rachel’s affair with her best friend’s fiancé, Dex, which leads to a complex exploration of friendship, betrayal, and personal values.

Q: How does Emily Giffin use setting in the novel?

A: Giffin uses settings like New York City and various personal spaces to reflect characters’ emotional states and the thematic elements of the story.

Q: What is the significance of the title Something Borrowed?

A: The title reflects both the literal borrowing of items in the context of a wedding and the metaphorical borrowing of emotions and relationships explored in the novel.

Q: How does the novel address the theme of friendship?

A: The novel examines the strain and complexities in Rachel and Darcy’s friendship, particularly how betrayal affects their bond and individual growth.

Q: What role does self-discovery play in Rachel’s character development?

A: Rachel’s journey is central to the theme of self-discovery, as she navigates her emotions and choices, ultimately seeking a deeper understanding of her own desires and values.

Quiz

QuestionOptionsAnswer
What is the central conflict of Something Borrowed?A) Rachel’s career challenges, B) Rachel’s affair with Dex, C) Darcy’s wedding plans, D) Dex’s job lossB
What role does New York City play in the novel?A) It is a background setting, B) It reflects the characters’ emotional states, C) It symbolizes rural life, D) It is unrelated to the plotB
How does the novel explore the theme of betrayal?A) Through Rachel’s professional decisions, B) Through Dex’s career choices, C) Through Rachel’s affair with Dex, D) Through Darcy’s wedding arrangementsC
What is the significance of the wedding dress in the story?A) Represents Rachel’s professional life, B) Symbolizes the ideal of romance and personal conflict, C) Reflects Darcy’s career success, D) Indicates the novel’s settingB
How does Rachel’s character change throughout the novel?A) She becomes more passive, B) She becomes more self-assured and proactive, C) She remains unchanged, D) She becomes less involved in the plotB

Exercise

Identify the literary devices used in the following passage from Something Borrowed:

“Rachel stared at the wedding dress, its pure white fabric a stark contrast to the mess of emotions inside her. The dress, symbolizing an ideal that now felt impossible, seemed to mock her every decision.”

Answers:

  • SymbolismThe wedding dress symbolizes the idealized vision of romance and the emotional conflict Rachel feels.
  • Contrast — Highlights the difference between the purity of the dress and Rachel’s chaotic emotions.
  • Imagery — Creates a vivid picture of the dress and its emotional impact on Rachel.
Index