The Collected Works of Dorothy Tennov

The Trial
(A Love Story)
by

Dorothy Tennov

2002 by Dorothy Tennov, Ph.D. Published by The Great American Publishing Society (GRAMPS)

www.gramps.org

A Scientist Looks at Romantic Love and Calls It Limerence:

ACT I The People:

Chapters I-VII

Preface

On June 1st of the year 2001, a novel began emerging from my computer. Having invented a set of

postulates based in scientific findings and theories from the Darwinian camp, it became a matter of discovering what, given those postulates, the characters must do if they were to meet that other criterion, the one that enables belief about the unbelievable to be suspended. Infatuation, by definition, is the enemy of good sense. In some cultures romantic love is outlawed; in others it is hidden in a diary in a night table drawer or expressed in eloquent missives never sent. A friend warned that a person who writes of romantic love excites little interest because theyve heard it before. Nothing new can be said on the subject. So it may seem, but they who feel that way are wrong. Despite the low opinion of it so often held, people continue to fall in love. It is powerful and tenacious, yet it has not yet been the subject of serious investigation. Romantic Love endures across lifetimes and across history, and, in truth, we dont know much about it. Did a United States Senator voice the feelings of many when he implied that love is a subject about which we might not want to know much? A graduate student who proposed to study love for her doctoral dissertation received so negative a reaction from the members of her thesis committee, that she could only infer it was a taboo subject. But it lies at the heart of our biological nature; it has consequences, and we can learn about it. When we will do so is another question. In 1981, the fictional Alan Browne published Love Two, which distinguished from other loves a condition described to him by informants asked to talk about Romantic Love or lovesickness. Strictly for convenience, he threw all the other kinds of love into the single category that he called Love One. By Love One he meant caring for another creature, or for a god, or for an object, or for a pet, or for a people, or for a piece of music. It included the feelings felt by parents for their offspring. Love One emphasizes feelings of concern for the welfare of whom or what is loved. In contrast, Love Two aims at ecstatic union with the person who is its single object. However, because Love Two can be one-sided and hurtful, it resembles a disease, in some ways, and it has been called one; but it is not at all like a disease, in other ways. It is like an addiction, in some ways; but it is not at all like an addiction, in other ways. Whether the experience is positive (ecstatic) or negative (miserable) depends on factors out of the individuals control. Love Two can incline people to do things that change lives in ways that do damage, but it can also inspire great accomplishment.

challenge the deity are in the end vanquished, along with their theories, their findings, and their monsters. The audience expects it, and the filmmaker dares not deviate. But out of the theater and off the screen although ideological resistance slows progress, the value of knowing greater truths through scientific

recurrent theme in popular culture is the trumping of science by belief. In films, scientists who

The Collected Works of Dorothy Tennov

discovery prevails over authoritarian opposition. In the Middle Ages, it was illegal to dissect a human corpse. At the turn of the 21st century, when the United States Congress attacked stem cell research, issues publicly articulated by the media exposed the critical philosophical issue of all time: utilitarianism versus absolutism, science versus authority, secularism versus fundamentalism, or natural science versus supernatural religion. Grandma Ginny, who represents what today is called the Religious Right. It ends in the middle of the 21st century, with Ginnys scientist granddaughter looking back over a lifetime of struggle against the obstacles imposed by her grandmothers ilk.

The Trial (A Love Story) could begin at any point, but, arbitrarily, it begins in 1921 with the birth of

As Alan Browne warned, Love Two is a Pandoras Box that will be opened one day, sooner or later. The Trial is a fantasy about how it might be opened and what might happen should Love Two be exposed to the glare of public awareness. Most thoughts and opinions expressed within have been said or might be said, given human nature, scientific knowledge, and the vagaries of publishers. Elements of autobiography abound, but always in mangled disguise. Some people and events are real and identified; some people are real but hidden behind pseudonyms and pseudo-places. Some are not yet real.

Dorothy Tennov
June 2003

A Scientist Looks at Romantic Love and Calls It Limerence:

Central Characters
Brigham, Scott: Microbiologist who worked on the substance called Brew3 with Carol Eisman. He joined Donna in an attempt to carry Ruth and Carols scientific discoveries into immediate social action, and was punished by an intransigent society fueled with fundamentalist irrationality. Eisman, Ph.D., Carol: Microbiologist who works in pursuit of the chemistry of romantic love and who, amidst world turmoil, works with Ruth to quietly bring about a scientific and social revolution at the cutting edge of human survival: reproduction. Mackintosh, Nancy: Journalist patient who sued Dr. Peter Young for misrepresentation. She doesnt understand why men keep falling in love with her. She is instrumental in bringing down the wrath of society and colleagues on poor Peter. Payne, Ruth: Evolutionary anthropologist who studies motherese and Love Two, had a torrid but truncated affair with Xavier; now married to Dr. Peter Young, mother of Arthur, sister of Donna, and friend and collaborator with Carol. Samu, Xavier (aka Vaughn Matini): Brilliant linguist, Ruths mentor, colleague, and lover. Their torrid affair was interrupted by threat of violence. He meets Ruth for the second time 23 years later. Young, Peter, Ph.D.: Psychodynamic psychotherapist, Ruths husband and defendant at the trial. He reaps, through his obdurate ignorance, the fate he most feared: public condemnation.

Important Characters
Bilford, Barbara: Stepmother of Ruth and Donna who hated Edna and interfered with her career. Blackmore, Benjamin: Judge at Peters trial. Chapter XI, The Verdict, consists mostly of excerpts from his journal in which he discusses his view of the trial and the reasons for his decision. Charged with delivering a difficult verdict, the judge expresses his thoughts and feelings in a chapter consisting entirely of notes from his journal as he wrestles with his task and arrives at his verdict. Browne, Alan: Deceased author of Love Two (which some say resembles Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love (Stein & Day, 1979; Scarborough House, 1999). Cornwallis, Dr. Charles: Peters mentor and guide to his psychotherapy practice. Eisman, Felicity Ann: Mother of Ruth and Donna, a Southern belle transplanted to the strange world of New York City, whose tragic life is directed by Love Two experiences of herself and others. Harris, Walt: Nancys editor. Kikki tribe: The New Guinean tribe with fierce customs that led to the murder of Xaviers mother and now threatened his own life. Manshubu, Dr. Abba: New Guinean linguist and colleague who warns Xavier of the danger from the Kikki tribe.

The Collected Works of Dorothy Tennov

Payne, Edna: Ruth and Donnas mother; a journalist whose career is almost destroyed by a campaign against her waged by her former husband and his wife, Barbara Bilford Payne. Pervis, Ed: Nancys lawyer paid for by insurance company whose witnesses tended to criticize the practice of psychotherapy. Price, Dick: A journalist who interviewed principals and wrote an article about the trial. Valdez, Antonio: Anthropologist who had studied the Kikki. He supplies evidence of Xaviers real background and induces Xavier to change his identity in self-protection. Ward, Nigel, Esq.: Peters second lawyer, who joined in criticism of Peters field while claiming him innocent of doing anything unethical. Young, Arthur Payne: Ruth and Peters only child; in college at the time of his fathers trial.

Minor Characters and Places

Allen, Barry: Maverick psychologist who developed finger arching as a therapy. Armstrong, Kelly: Friend of Carol who lost her children, home, and husband after receiving a psychiatric diagnosis. She died soon after of cancer. [The tragedy of the actual person upon whose story the author drew was worse than what is depicted in fiction.] Barnett, Maria: Xaviers former LO. Beckstrom, Bernice: Ruths graduate student. Chico: Carols male friend. Cushing, Pamela: Author of Patient, Beware! (based on PHC), a book highly critical of psychodynamic psychotherapy. She testifies at the trial. Dauler, Ph.D. Vincent: Professor who accused Pamela Cushing of throwing out the baby with the bath water. Eisman, Cecilia: Carols sister who was killed in childhood. Evans, Marshall: Lifer (a patient continually in psychotherapy) who worked at Ragtag Magazine. Grant, Beverly: Student of Ruth, harassed by other students. Iverson, Mark: Insurance company spokesperson who defended distinguishing between psychotherapy and counseling. Kurira: A person from one of the three tribes from which a Kikki could select a mate. Mackintosh, Jim: Nancys businessman brother who urged her to sue Dr. Young. Matini, Angela: Xaviers wife. Moore, Lily: Peters patient, called a lifer; continually in psychotherapy. Payne, Barbara Bilford: Eismans second wife who hated his first wife, Edna. Payne, Horace: Father of Ruth and Donna; businessman. Riley, Ginger: The Riley boys stepmother, critical of Vivian, their mother. Riley, Vivian: Donnas client, the Riley boys mother.

A Scientist Looks at Romantic Love and Calls It Limerence:

Riley, William: The Riley boys father, a construction worker. Robbins, Claude: Psychiatrist who incorporated Love Two in his treatments. Shapiro, Sid: Professor of psychology and statistics who encouraged Carol to continue her career in science. Smith, Alfred MacLean: Professor of sociology who influenced Carols social consciousness Waldin, (Grandma) Ginny: Carols Southern grandmother. Welstein, Dr. Craig: Professional who spoke in defense of Dr. Young. Wilson, Leland: Peter Youngs first lawyer who wanted to demean Nancy Mackintosh; fired by Peter, replaced by Nigel Ward.

Tangential People, Peoples, and Places

Bentl, Robert: Student who threatened to bomb the school and was later killed by police. Branosi: A New Guinea highland tribe. Bridgeville, Ohio: The town in which Peter Young and family lived. Brigham, Betsy: Older daughter of Scott Brigham and his former wife Clare. Brigham, Clare: Scott Brighams former wife, mother of Betsy and Muriel Brigham. Brigham, Muriel: Betsy Brighams younger sister. Eisman, George Oliver: Carols father, who died when Carol was eleven. Grimwald, Sarah: The friend who recommended Peter to Lily Helena: Donnas friend. Hoboros: A New Guinean tribe. Houston, Samantha: Anthropologist whose sudden illness left Ruth to fend for herself (with Xaviers help) during the first trip to New Guinea. Huxley, Brent: President of Westport University. Jones, Willard: Donnas one-time lover; he was her only non-cyber space friend. Matini, Vaughn: The name taken by Xavier in self-protection. Molungi: A New Guinean coastal people. Webber, Millie: Nancys friend.

English Woodcut The Trial