Notes on a Scandal: Explore the Relationship Between Barbara and Sheba

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Notes On A Scandal: Explore the relationship between Barbara and Sheba The whole concept of the relationship between Barbara and Sheba is the diversity allying jealousy and commitment. Throughout the novel, Heller presents Barbara as being constantly dedicated towards Sheba rather than to anyone else. Whereas Sheba prefers to surround herself with other colleagues like Sue – ‘All the frustration I felt at being shut out her life’ – this line personifies Barbara as being overbearing and a depiction of her being a motherly like figure. However, in chapter 18 the line – ‘I made her take a nap after lunch’ – this contradicts her acting like a maternal figure in the earlier chapter; by Sheba finally allowing Barbara’s manipulative ways to overcome her sense of worth. With the outcome of her being vulnerable and desperate like a child – this tailors to Barbara’s desire of being able to dictate her. The second description – ‘I have given the date one gold star’ – Barbara reveals she keeps a manuscript about Sheba, she buys sticky gold stars to place in her journal to designate the seminal points in her narration of Sheba’s life. She uses the term, ‘date’, implying that there’s a possibility Barbara has a sexual attraction towards Sheba by referencing the word in a rather romantic manner. The journal she possesses relates to her desire for friendship, by plotting how she can get Sheba to notice her and become her friend. Although Barbara is full of bitterness and jealousy, who rejects almost everyone she meets inferior to herself; in her snide comments and spiteful writing, she reveals her main problem – she longs to be loved and accepted by anyone. When she realises that Sheba is willing to be her friend and accept her as the person she is, she then clings onto the friendship she has so tightly, she appears unhinged. Despite her malice and obsessive behaviour, she is

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