Claire believes that Rory loves her "in his own broken way." Do you agree?

Claire believes that Rory loves her "in his own broken way." Do you agree?

I guess it would depend on ones definition of love. He was working in a pattern, thinking that love was power.
He was not happy unless he was in control.

Rory didn't love anyone but Rory. Everything move he made in life had a purpose - even marrying Claire. She fit all the items on a check list--beautiful, overwhelmed by him, makings of a "good" wife. Just what he needed for his political ambitions.

No - not really. I don't believe he was capable of loving anyone. He was motivated by control, power and anger. No everyone has the capability to love another human being. I think he enjoyed hurting people. He had to win at all costs.

If "in his own broken way" means he is consumed by fear, anger and a desperate need to maintain complete control, how could he possibly have room for that emotion?

Rory was so damaged by his mothers inattention. He was unable to fully love. He was manipulative and cunning. Claire was his victim and got away luckily.

It was obvious from the start Rory was using Claire from the beginning of the book. Unfortunately, too many women are in the same situation.

No, Rory did not love Claire. In the definition of love, there’s no such phrase as “he loved her in his own broken way”. He abused, manipulated, and used Claire. In addition, he had his staff spy on her. He often spoke to her as if she were a child. Rory wanted money, power, and control. He had political ambitions and appeared to care not one whit about about what Claire wanted.

I agree with everyone. I don't think Rory was capable of love because he was narcissist . I think Claires life could have been so much more fulfilling if she had married a different kind of man.

No, Rory did not love Claire. In the definition of love, there’s no such phrase as “he loved her in his own broken way”. He abused, manipulated, and used Claire. In addition, he had his staff spy on her. He often spoke to her as if she were a child. Rory wanted money, power, control, and he also had political ambitions.

I don't think that Rory loved Claire at all. Is love spying on your spouse and controlling her every move? He just needed her to make him look good and further his political career.

I don't think Rory even knew the meaning of love. He was a narcissist and an abuser. He believed he had to control her -- there's no room for love along with all of these negative attitudes.

You have to look at this question from the outside of the relationship. I think Claire may have felt this to protect her own fragile self. In a real relationship, both parties are equal. No one is ever in total control. No one is an abuser.

As others have said, I don't believe Rory was capable of love at all. He saw women almost as a necessary decoration for his career, and when they didn't serve his ends any more or crossed him he sought to get rid of them. The only part of Claire's statement with which I agree is that Rory is indeed "broken."

Clare manifested the typical victim's mentality- questioning herself and vowing to be better. She finally realized that he was a danger to her along with his complicit family and she thought staff.She was just one more possession that he had and satisfied his check list of items necessary to be an attractive candidate.

No - Rory was not capable of loving anyone but himself. He wanted her because she made him look good. And when he felt that she didn't make him look good, he abused her. That is not love on any level.

I think Claire told herself that he loved her to justify her staying with him for as long as she did. If what I understand about abusers is right, they blame the victim for their temper and abuse and then apologize profusely afterwards.

If the definition of love being used is Rory's definition -- than yes, he loved her. If it is the definition of love understood by emotionally healthy adults -- than no, he did not. Their relationship was one of power and manipulation, not mutual respect, support and acceptance. I agree with earlier comments that Claire exhibited a victim's mentality in blaming herself for her husband's harrowing misdeeds. I thought the author did an excellent job making these points in the story. It is a testament to Claire's strength that she was able to successfully free herself from her abuser.

I think Rory only cared about himself. He proved this in his relationship with Claire and with Maggie. I do not think he was capable of loving anyone else.

No. He shows personality typical abuser. I think family wealth helped to nurture that personality.