Was Jimmy in love with Vivien?

I believe he eventually fell in love with Vivien. He loved and was devoted to Dolly, but the more he realized her intentions towards Vivien, the more he began to see a little more of her character, I believe his feelings changed.

I think Jimmy was growing out of love with Dorothy as he was falling for Vivien. Unintentionally, of course.

Dolly was his first love, and he was indeed, devoted to her, but as time went on and he interacted with Vivien, he was seeing Dolly for her manipulative behaviors and noticing more and more the uneasiness created in himself when dealing with Dolly in their extortive efforts to secure the means to their marriage dreams.

The scene where he presents the check to Dolly, thereby hoping to put ‘the plan’ to rest, and Dolly leans over the table to kiss him, he feels nothing for her all while he’s agonizing over his guilt and the overwhelm of Vivien’s goodbye – that felt like the final snap to me. Then we learn he’s set up a meet with Vivien.

But, because he was fiercely loyal of character, who is to know what his meeting at the railway cafe with Vivien would’ve brought or whether he would’ve stayed committed to the marriage proposal/dream with Dolly.

At the end, I think we see that confirmed devotion – after all, first loves leave a lifelong imprint, no? – when Jimmy looks her up to check in on Dolly and her life after the war. And then we glimpse once more, his goodness and loyalty of character when he realizes what Vivien has done and he simply walks away (but not until confirming she has the husband and life she deserves) and takes the knowledge with him to his grave.

🥴 All that to say, I believe Jimmy loved them both. One might suggest ‘it’s complicated.’

• This reply was modified 11 months ago by Kelly.

I agree – I think he is in Love with his first love (Dolly) as that is what Dolly represents. But as most of us know… our first love is just that. When he met Vivien and watched her, I think he saw what he wanted out of life and it was the same for Vivien. Had he “not been taken care of” by Vivien’s jealous and abusive husband, it might have turned out differently.