Adolphe is a guy with really low self esteem, and he can act like an asshole to compensate. That is how he met Ellenore. He saw another man who was happily with another woman and thought "I want that happiness. I want to be like him. I want a woman to make me happy." Enter Ellenore. She's older, in a relationship, has kids, and is very attractive. He courts her, she likes him back. "Happiness! Joy! She likes me!" Adolphe thinks everything is great, but really its because her love validates himself. He doesn't really love her back for who she is. He just loves to be loved. But being with her and seeing all the sacrifices she has made for him (giving up her kids!! hello! red flag!!) doesn't warm his heart, he just grows discontented. Discontented and needy. He can't get out of the relationship because without her, he doesn't amount to much. Just a guy with a short resume who took to long to get out of a bad relationship, and to him that fate seems worse than staying with someone who truly does love him.
Ellenore is quite the risk-taker. She's also needy, but controlling as well. She completely committed herself to Adolphe by leaving the Comte and abandoning her children. Adolphe is indebted to her- now he can't possibly leave her! She's given up so much! And he does stay with her til the end. Ellenore knows he doesn't love her back, "You think what you feel is love, but it is only pity" (81). So in the end, she dies with her unrequited love, and Adolphe feels really horrible about the entire situation. He did pity her, and conversely pittied himself for feeling that way.
PS I really liked this book cover. Instead of some beautiful Ellenore weeping, or a semi-attractive Adolphe, the distance between the two walking really captures the essence of their relationship.
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