Call Me By Your Name - A literary review

Zwischen Immer und Nie. Between Always and Never.

A concept that stems from the neverending summer in which a moment of time is held in infinity but also nothing. Within ‘Call me by your name’ the notion relates to a relationship that stemmed from emotion expressed through silence and understated behaviour. 

The two main characters that the novel is centred around are Elio and Oliver. Elio is the 17-year old, trilingual, musical genius, son of an Italian philosophy professor and Oliver is characterised as the 24-year old, American graduate who is spending the summer in Italy under the supervision of Elio’s father whilst working on his manuscript for his studies. 

Andre Aciman captures the essence of summer ‘somewhere in Northern Italy’ in 1983, in which the scenery of Monet’s Berm encapsulates a moment of everything, every emotion, every unsaid thought between the characters of Elio and Oliver, and suspends it in a bubble of happiness, sensuality, and summertime. 

However, like any summer past time, it suspends itself in the nothingness of the past. Thus Zwischen Immer und Nie, Between Always and Never is the best descriptor of the couple's relationship, as, throughout the second part of the novel, there is an underlying element of hesitation as both men come to terms with the interactions they experience. 

The scenery of the novel is vivid and warm. The interaction between setting and character is significant as the backdrop of the novel is full of quaint coastal towns that only truly awaken after sunset and homes that stand amongst paddocks of grass and hidden nooks like Monet’s Berm.

The novel itself has specific settings that relate to specific events throughout the plot. Elio bedroom, Monet’s Berm, the town square, the beach, and the house’s backyard just to name a few. In the context of the backyard, it contains the tennis court and pool which is the centre point of many of the character’s daily routines. For example, the main character Elio wakes for breakfast in the dining room, studies his music in the backyard before traveling by bike to the town for the evening, and so the routine continues. It is within this peaceful summer setting that the focus on Elio and Oliver’s developing relationship takes the forefront of the readers' attention, with the support of the beautiful and calm backdrop of the Italian countryside. 

As with any summer romance, there must be angst. Elio believes that while - for the lack of a better word - he’s mooning over Oliver that “Who we are and what we want, is a twisted staircase designed with the impish cruelty of M. C. Escher.” (pg 68) This metaphor reflects the relationship between Elio and Oliver as both suffer the chronic issue of ‘can’t talk about my feelings-itis’ and thus continues the over-arching theme of pain, suffering, and romance. 

Elio’s approach to language is reflected through the constant metaphors, quoting of philosophers and other literature, and the verbose vocabulary he uses throughout the entirety of his 1st person narration. As a result, there are more metaphors!! Including the one in front of you now: "opposite banks on a river that passes from us to them." references the quote-unquote ‘river of desire’ that Elio struggles to cross throughout the duration of the 1st and 2nd parts of the novel. Not only is it a pretty quote, but it also emphasizes the ongoing struggle Elio faces. 

The story itself is about the pain of coming of age and the heartbreak that can follow a whimsical summer affair. One of the novels many reviews states that it is “Brave, acute, elated, naked, brutal, tender, humane and beautiful”, the entire story conflicts with itself as the hopes and dreams of Elio change and manipulate themselves depending on the time, location, and which way the wind is blowing. In other words, the motivations of Elio’s character are fluid in nature as he is a 17-year old boy who is discovering summer romance for the very first time. 

Understatement is key to the way in which Elio and Oliver communicate. One of the more explicit instances of this occurs when Elio slips Oliver a note, committed to expressing his desire for a sexual encounter. Instead of stating it outright, he writes, "Can't bear the silence. We need to talk”. This is only one example of many interactions between Elio and Oliver, as the concept of understatement is prevalent in almost every single aspect of their confusing, roller-coaster-worthy relationship. 

This scene is an example in which Elio decides to speak his emotions instead of continuing the anxiety-inducing narration as he contemplates and criticises every aspect of his actions. An example of this would be seen on page 120 of the novel but realistically everywhere else too. From start to finish Elio must always consider ‘is it better to speak or to die?’. In the instance of his letter to Oliver he decides to speak, however *spoiler alert* when Oliver returns to his home in the States he remains quiet, leaving his emotions to ‘die’ alongside him.

“When Elio and Oliver are sitting at the Piazzetta overlooking the sea, he recalls the Latin phrase "Cor cordium," "heart of hearts." This is a motif that references the death of our favourite romantic poet, Percy Shelley, and the reaction of Mary Shelley upon discovering his body. “Mary Shelley kept the calcifying heart for years after his death… Years later, when Elio discovers that Oliver has kept the postcard of Monet's berm framed in his college office, Oliver tells him that he added an inscription to the back: Cor cordium.”

Elio describes Oliver as his ‘homecoming’ and that being with Oliver is “like coming home after years away among Trojans and Lestrygonians” and relates this monumental relief he feels upon being with Oliver and for the small summer, he spent with him. Elio views Oliver - very aspect of him - to be home.

The impacts of each coloured swim short on Elio’s perception of Oliver; “Red: bold, set in his ways, very grown-up, almost gruff and ill-tempered — stay away. Yellow: sprightly, buoyant, funny, not without barbs — don't give in too easily; might turn to red in no time. Green, which he seldom wore: acquiescent, eager to learn, eager to speak, sunny… Blue: the afternoon he stepped into my room from the balcony, the day he massaged my shoulder, or when he picked up my glass and placed it right next to me.” (Pg ?) This trend continues throughout the novel except on one occasion in which Oliver wears Elio shorts. Although many would not think so deeply about swimming trunks and their influence on one’s personality, this constant over-thinking truly expresses Elio’s constant, near nauseating narration as he assesses and reassesses every action, every breath made by both Oliver and himself.

Desire and obsession are a universal human experience, timeless and undiscriminating in nature, so when Elio notices that Oliver wears the Star of David he feels a comradery between Oliver and himself. It is mentioned in the book that when Elio meets Oliver in daily life, they are two people, two jews meeting and that no other external labels define them, they just exist in the purity of emotion. The symbol of both the Star of David and Judaism as a whole is prevalent in Elio’s writing. Elio has been brought up with his family quietly living beside their faith but when Oliver comes barging in, brash with his all-American ways, the star of David - and how Oliver wears it - only further separates their two personalities whilst still connecting them spiritually. 

Techniques used in 'Call Me By Your Name':

Metaphor: A River of Desire, The staircase of M.C Esher - the impact of understatement through metaphor, how it tortures Elio.

Symbolism: (1) The Star of David - Elio and Oliver both together in Judaism and their emotions. The connection of belief makes Elio feel that Oliver is made of the same cloth as him and that when together they are but to bodies meeting as jews. (2) Oliver’s Swim Shorts - the implications of the colour on Elio’s perception of Oliver’s personality. 

Smilie: (1) Homecoming - “like coming home after years away among Trojans and Lestrygonians” the relief Elio feeling upon being with Oliver and for the small summer he spent with him, Elio views Oliver - very aspect of him - to be home. 

Imagery: The Italian countryside in the summer, the use of symbolism and metaphors throughout the novel paints a vivid picture for the reader to devour. 

The connection between Elio and Oliver as two people meeting each other with all their pain and suffering, yet finding a summer romance that acts as both the catalyst for this pain and the balm that soothes it. As the novel progresses, Elio comes of age over the course of the summer. In the absence of Oliver, Elio is left to pick up the pieces of his heart as not only does the novel follow Elio in his first love, it remains with him throughout his first heartbreak. This is where the concept of familial love plays a significant part in the stitching back together of his heart even though many interpret the novel's ending to assume that he is forever changed. Call Me By Your Name is a simple story of summer love and the coming of age of a boy named Elio who loved a man named Oliver.