Luzia believes that Santángel had been using her, but that he also cared about her, thinking that "Both things can be true and still mean nothing." Do you agree?

Luzia believes that Santángel had been using her, but that he also cared about her, thinking that "Both things can be true and still mean nothing." Do you agree?

I believe Santangel genuinely cared for Luzia and tried to protect her as much as he was able. Yes, I absolutely agree.

I agree that he cared for her AND was using her. The "still mean nothing" is the interesting part. He feels that he must is in the grips of his curse, and although he wants to be free, isn't sure that he can be.

Again, I think it was complicated. In the beginning I do think he was using her. as the plot thickened and he began to fall in love with her, I dont know that he felt the same way. I think he would have given up his life for hers and would not have used her in the way he initially intended.

Yes, both things can be true and she used him in much the same manner as he used her. Every character in this story shared a duplicitous nature.

He was using her to get out of his horrific situation but then he realized he cared for her and fell in love.

"Both things can be true and still mean nothing" I think it is true. In the beginning, they could "use" each other for their individual objectives and survival. It meant nothing to either one of them. Once they became more emotionally involved, their motivation became attraction, then love, and love, the driver, meant everything.

Yes, both things can be true and mean nothing in that Luzia and Santangle were both using each other at first. This was a means to an end, and meant nothing. As time went on, they both came to care and eventually love each other. Luzia accepted that how the relationship started didn't affect their eventual caring for each other later, and so did not matter.

It can be true because they were both under such pressure for their very lives and circumstance. They were unable to make decisions together, so they had to do what was best individually and hope it might be OK for the other in the outcome. There was so much control and manipulation that they were not truly able to take care of each other.

It’s complicated! I think Santangel grew in his feelings for her. At first, she was a means to an end (his freedom), but over time I believe he respected her in many ways —> her gifts, of course, but her drive, her intellect that slowly revealed itself. As all of these were revealed, love came forth. I’m a firm believer that friends that eventually fall in love have a stronger relationship. So yes, agree!

Yes, the binds they were under made both things true but eventually they broke the curse of meaning nothing.

Sure, Narcissists do this all the time, in their minds they care for the person but also think its also okay to use someone.

I do agree. He did love and use her. His circumstance led him to a terrible decision and his heart tortured him for it. But to Luzia, neither of those mattered. What mattered were her feelings and situation. She could both love him and be angry at him. She knew that either way, her circumstance was not going to change.

Sunflowersky1982...so true!!!!!!

I agree but isn't that true of most relationships, even our closest. There is always a transactional element in our loves and our friendships. You can accept those flaws as long as the relationship is successful in the end.