In the Likely Event

In this section of the novel, the author’s early foreshadowing about the depths of Nate and Izzy’s relationship begins to bear fruit, for Yarros uses the flashback chapters to delve into a variety of emotionally laden topics that more clearly delineate each character’s triggers, fears, and weaknesses, as well as the mutual strength and comfort that they find in each other’s company. To this end, The Myriad Effects of Psychological Trauma become even more prominent as the painful elements of Nate’s past and upbringing gradually come to light. The flashback to his mother’s funeral is particularly illuminating, for not only does it provide Izzy a unique glimpse into his problematic family dynamics, but it also opens a path for the two to become more intimate on several different levels. As Izzy observes Nate’s interactions with his father and realizes that Nate himself has experienced The Long-Term Effects of Domestic Violence, she finally receives an answer to the mystery of the injuries that Nate had before the plane crash. This flash of insight also serves to explain the roots of his desire to protect people, for the implication of the scene is that Nate was likely his mother’s protector, guarding her as best he could against his father’s propensity for violence and abuse. Thus, it can be further inferred that this difficult upbringing led him to pursue a larger “protector” role as a member of the military, and he also brings this pattern of behavior to his relationship with Izzy.

Nate’s difficult childhood also causes him to face new traumas with a sense of unflinching resignation, and this character quirk represents a striking example of The Myriad Effects of Psychological Trauma, for he startles Izzy with the offhand and almost nonchalant comment that he makes about Fitz’s death. Nate even seems surprised by Izzy’s reaction when she is shocked by the news, and this exchange demonstrates that his upbringing and his current career path have created a reality in which trauma has become a nearly everyday event for him: something barely worthy of comment. However, with the death of Nate’s mother, many of these unresolved issues manifest in a way that he simply cannot process alone, and this emotional crisis precipitates his decision to turn to Izzy for comfort after the funeral.  

Despite so many early indicators that Nate and Izzy are a good match for each other, significant obstacles to their relationship remain, for Nate’s fear of dying in the line of duty and thereby leaving Izzy alone and abandoned ironically causes him to initiate a different form of abandonment. He refuses to put a label on his relationship with Izzy in a misguided attempt to protect her. Thus, the theme of Abandonment Through Disappointment becomes a serious issue in their various interactions, for Nate’s reluctance to hurt Izzy by getting too close causes him to hold back in ways that are inadvertently hurtful. He also remains unaware that by coming to Izzy for comfort after his mother’s funeral, he has irrevocably deepened the essence of their relationship, committing to her without intending to. No matter how fiercely he resists labeling the relationship, it is still a relationship, and his well-intentioned hesitance to commit fully to Izzy ultimately coincides with her own childhood fear of abandonment and sabotages the connection between them.

Within this understated push-pull dynamic, Nate and Izzy’s trip to Fiji creates further ambiguity, for it is successful in that they both find happiness in each other’s arms during this idyllic time frame. Even though Nate continues to resist Izzy’s desire to build her life around his, he does commit to several more years of these romantic trips. Thus, Nate’s attachment to Izzy is complex in that he won’t let her change his life for him, but he clearly cares for her and wants to be with her despite his fears. This pattern of behavior continues into the future and manifests yet again in Afghanistan, for when Izzy and Nate find themselves stranded at the Kandahar airport, Izzy learns that Nate uses “Navarre” as his call sign and realizes that this decision is a reference to Ladyhawke: the movie that inspired Izzy’s name and that they watched together on her birthday so long ago. It is also significant that the plot of the movie parallels Izzy and Nate’s relationship, for the protagonists of the movie are lovers who are kept apart because a curse has been placed upon them. Thus, the understated implication of this allusion speaks to Nate and Izzy’s inherent compatibility even as it emphasizes the obstacles that still come between them.

Given this additional context, the character of Jeremy clearly acts as a foil for Nate, for when Jeremy casually dismisses his own infidelity and expects Izzy to acquiesce to the prospect of a loveless marriage that would only function on paper, his coldly pragmatic attitude demonstrates his lack of regard for the woman who is currently his fiancé. Unlike Nate, Jeremy doesn’t care for Izzy in the way that a proper fiancé should, and his behavior stands in contrast to Nate’s many proofs of love and devotion over the years. This comparison between the two men shows the depth of Nate’s feelings more clearly and illustrates the indifferent nature of the world that Izzy grew up in, for her relationship with Jeremy is a result of the selfish influences of her parents. They are interested in Izzy’s relationship only because they believe that a family connection to Jeremy, who is destined for a life of politics, will be a boost to their business. Thus, their emphasis on personal gain over familial devotion only shows the true extent of their indifference to their daughter’s happiness. It also reinforces Izzy’s fear of abandonment, touching again on the theme of Abandonment Through Disappointment that haunts her even in her adult life.