Swimming in the Dark

Janusz and Ludwik are in many ways foils to each other. They have different personalities, political beliefs, and approaches to their relationship. What do they have in common? What draws them to each other? Analyze their similarities and differences, and discuss what the tension between them reveals about the nature of love, attraction, and attachment.

Giovanni’s Room plays an important part in Swimming in the Dark. Write an essay in which you compare Ludwik with the novel’s main character, David. In what way is Swimming in the Dark a response to or commentary on Giovanni’s Room?

Ludwik undergoes a transformation during Swimming in the Dark, re-analyzing the shame he feels for his sexuality. What precisely allows Ludwik to release his shame? Examine the moments when Ludwik reconciles with his sexuality and explain the factors behind his self-acceptance and the implications of those factors.