What do you think is holding back Kit in her relationship with Max?
I think that Kit was not in a place to want to be open about her sexuality. It was easier to have a relationship in Paris with Evelyn, who did not know her family. Max and Kit’s families were too close in proximity and knew each other as long-time neighbors and through work, which complicated the relationship.
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Being gay was not acceptable at that time. Both would have been judged very harshly or been rejected by their families and society if they ever opened up about their sexuality.
Definitely the culture of the times. Paris was a more liberal city and had lots of artists, so a lesbian relationship would not be as likely to raise as many eyebrows. But elsewhere, the Natzi’s were rounding up homosexuals in addition to Jews and sending them to the gas chambers, so she had to keep the relationship hidden just to survive.
I think Kit didn’t feel worthy of someone with Max’s background. Max’s father had money and influence. Kit’s family didn’t have that. Max was self-assured and Kit wasn’t. I think Kit was afraid that if she and Max were a couple and something went wrong that she would lose her friendship.
Kit was fearful of being recognized as someone who loved a woman. It was not well respected at the time of WWII. She didn’t think her family would accept this inclination. I think she was afraid of her own feelings as well. Also, she didn’t want to be considered as one of Max’s meaningless relationships (conquests).
Cultural norms is my thought for why Kit is holding back.
Kit simply didn’t realize that her feelings had matured from friendship to romantic love. And I’m certain that a part of her feared that if they embarked upon a romantic relationship their friendship might be lost forever if the romance didn’t survive.
I don’t think her hesitance was as much about societal norms as it was about her knowledge that Max’s father had reacted badly when Max revealed her true self to him and the fact that Kit had only told her sisters, but not her parents, about her sexuality. Their fathers were friends and I think Kit feared a relationship might create a rift between the 2 families.
Also, she was mesmerized by Evelyn and when she learned how cavalierly Evelyn had betrayed her, she saw clearly who really loved her and would never deliberately use or hurt her. Max was always there for Kit, utterly devoted to her and willing to risk her own life to help Kit and Ivy. Kit finally knew what deep, abiding love could be like.