What does David learn about masculinity from his father? How does David’s relationship to his father and the understandings of love and manhood that stem from this influence his future relationships?

Giovanni’s room and home are two central symbols in the text. How do these two symbols intersect? How do Giovanni and David view these symbols differently, and what tension does that cause?

Although David continually has affairs with men—whether he remembers them or not—he believes he is entirely different from men like Jacques or Guillaume. What does David believe separates him from “le milieu” who frequent bars like Guillaume’s? How does he try to maintain this distance even when in an open relationship with Giovanni?