Validation and Recognition in the History of Love

Validation and Recognition in The History of Love

A major theme in The History of Love by Nicole Krauss is the burning desire to be validated and recognized which can be seen through the actions of Leo, Bird, and the actual book The History of Love.

It is painfully evident in Leo Gursky’s life that he fights to not just be living but be validated and seen. Leo claims, “I try to make a point of being seen. Sometimes when I’m out, I’ll buy a juice even though I’m not thirsty. If the store is crowded I’ll even go so far as dropping my change all over the floor, the nickels, and dimes sliding in every direction.” (Krauss 3) This obsession probably started during WWII when the Nazi’s invaded his homeland and he was forced to make himself invisible to avoid being killed and in that time was even more aware of death and dying, which triggered his fear of dying without being noticed or making an impact. Now over half a century later Leo still struggles with this fear and obsession and does outrageous things like, “ I was scheduled to model for the art class… I reached for the ad in my pocket of my pants. NUDE MODEL it said.” (Krauss 14,16) By the end of the book Leo eventually starts to get over his desire, “I went in and bought coffee because I felt like coffee, not because I wanted anyone to notice me.” (Krauss 76) Things change due to Isaac- one of the only people he wanted to notice him dying as well as being connected with Alma Singer.

As well as Leo, Alma’s younger brother Bird also had a desire to be recognized due to his father dying when he was very little and due to this his mother not being present much so he tried to bring attention to himself for his sister and mother. He especially did things that tied back to his belief that he was a Lamed Vovnik for example, “He’d scrawled God’s name in permanent marker across the top of every page.” (Krauss 60) Bird did things like