Two-Part Invention

1. The Unlikely Union of Contrasting Lives

How different were Hugh’s and my early years; each of us was given different treasures, different sorrows.

Contrasting upbringings. Madeleine L'Engle's childhood was solitary, spent in Manhattan apartments, immersed in books, music, and theatre, with an ailing father and artist parents. Hugh Franklin, her future husband, experienced a more typical American upbringing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, surrounded by family and community, with a lawyer father and a strong church presence. Their worlds were diametrically opposed, one valuing art, the other conventional "Christian" living.

Shared artistic calling. Despite these differences, both were drawn to the theatre. Madeleine found her stride as an actress and writer, while Hugh, a talented student and performer, pursued acting as his life's calling after a pivotal theatrical experience. Their individual paths, though distinct, converged in a shared passion for the arts, setting the stage for their eventual meeting.

Complementary strengths. Their diverse backgrounds, rather than creating insurmountable barriers, provided a rich tapestry for their relationship. Madeleine's interior dream world and Hugh's grounded, community-oriented nature offered complementary strengths, allowing them to navigate life's complexities with a broader perspective and deeper understanding.

2. The Artist's Path: Perseverance Amidst Rejection

This inability truly to assess one’s own accomplishment is what makes rejections so bitter.

Early career struggles. Madeleine's journey in the theatre began with a small understudy role on Broadway, where she learned about artistic intuition and the subjective nature of performance. Her early writing career was marked by numerous rejections, a painful experience that made her question the quality of her work, despite her deep belief in it.

Hugh's parallel path. Hugh, too, faced the precariousness of an actor's life, experiencing both triumphs and setbacks. His early career included a significant injury that nearly derailed his aspirations, and later, the constant uncertainty of finding roles. Both understood that success and failure were intertwined in their chosen professions.

Resilience and belief. Despite the financial instability and the emotional toll of constant rejection, Madeleine and Hugh persevered. Madeleine continued to write, driven by an inner compulsion, and eventually found success with The Small Rain and later, A Wrinkle in Time, after years of persistent effort. Their shared commitment to their art, even when it meant living on the edge, defined their early years.

3. Love's Unfolding: Beyond Romance to Deep Companionship

A love which depends solely on romance, on the combustion of two attracting chemistries, tends to fizzle out. The famous lovers usually end up dead. A long-term marriage has to move beyond chemistry to compatibility, to friendship, to companionship.

A dazzling beginning. Madeleine's initial encounter with Hugh was one of instant recognition and profound connection, leading her to declare, "I have met the man I want to marry." Their courtship was intense, marked by long conversations and a palpable sense of destiny, despite external complications from other suitors.

Maturing through shared life. Their love quickly evolved beyond initial infatuation. They learned to navigate the challenges of a theatrical life, financial constraints, and the demands of early parenthood. Their bond deepened through shared experiences, mutual support, and a growing understanding of each other's needs and vulnerabilities.

The bedrock of companionship. Over forty years, their marriage transformed into a rich tapestry of compatibility, friendship, and companionship. They found joy in shared passions—music, art, nature, and people—and developed a profound, unspoken understanding, or "kything," that transcended mere words. This enduring connection became the foundation of their lasting love.

4. Marriage as a Two-Part Invention

The growth of love is not a straight line, but a series of hills and valleys. I suspect that in every good marriage there are times when love seems to be over.

Dynamic interplay. The metaphor of a "two-part invention" perfectly encapsulates their marriage: two distinct voices (lives) intertwining, sometimes in harmony, sometimes in counterpoint, but always creating a unified whole. They learned to give each other space for individual growth while remaining deeply connected.

Navigating conflict and distance. Their marriage was not without its trials. Madeleine acknowledged periods of anger and alienation, recognizing that love's path is rarely smooth. Hugh's frequent absences for theatre work, and later Madeleine's speaking engagements, tested their bond, but they maintained connection through constant communication and a shared commitment.

Growth through adversity. These "desert lines" and moments of difficulty ultimately led to deeper understanding and a more resilient love. They learned to accept each other's "edges and corners," transforming irritations into endearments. Their commitment to working through challenges strengthened their partnership, making their love more profound and enduring.

5. The Sanctuary of Home and Community

Crosswicks is an icon of our marriage, that old house we have loved for forty years.

A first real home. For Madeleine, who had never lived in a "real house" until adulthood, Crosswicks became a powerful symbol of family and community. Purchased for a modest sum, the old New England farmhouse, with its crooked charm, became a labor of love, a place they painstakingly restored and made their own.

Rootedness and belonging. Crosswicks provided a much-needed sense of rootedness in their often-transient lives. It was a place where their children grew up, where friends gathered, and where the rhythms of country life offered a stark contrast to the demands of New York theatre. The house itself became a living entity, absorbing their joys, angers, births, and deaths.

Community support. The small village community surrounding Crosswicks became an extension of their family. Neighbors and friends offered practical help and emotional support, especially during Hugh's final illness. This network of caring individuals reinforced the idea that "no man is an island," providing a vital sense of belonging and shared humanity.

6. Navigating Life's Unpredictability

We managed and we were happy.

Embracing the unknown. Madeleine and Hugh's lives were a testament to embracing unpredictability. From Hugh's early career setbacks to their bold decision to leave New York and run a general store in rural Connecticut, they consistently chose paths that defied conventional stability. This willingness to take risks was a hallmark of their partnership.

Adaptability and resourcefulness. During their nine years running the store at Crosswicks, they learned hard lessons about business and human nature. They adapted to country life, found creative ways to make ends meet, and built a thriving local business. This period, though challenging, fostered resilience and a deeper connection to their community.

Returning to their calling. Despite the success of the store, Hugh eventually realized he needed to return to acting, his true talent. This meant another leap of faith, uprooting their family back to New York. Their ability to navigate these major life shifts, always supporting each other's deepest callings, underscored their dynamic partnership.

7. The Paradox of Suffering and Faith

This summer I find reality in the simple things of creation. We have enjoyed food with a special poignancy.

Confronting the "place of excrement." Hugh's cancer diagnosis plunged Madeleine into a period of intense suffering and theological questioning. She grappled with the "why" of pain and the nature of God's presence in adversity, rejecting the notion of a punitive God or one who only appears in good times.

God in the brokenness. Madeleine found solace and meaning not in easy answers, but in the paradox of God's love being most present in "the place of excrement"—in pain, brokenness, and the depths of human anguish. She affirmed that God does not cause tragedies but lovingly enters into them with us, offering purification rather than punishment.

Finding joy in the mundane. Amidst the overwhelming anxiety of Hugh's illness, Madeleine became acutely aware of the simple beauties of life: the glory of sunsets, the deliciousness of garden vegetables, the softness of clean sheets. These poignant moments of gratitude became a form of prayer, affirming purpose and pattern even in chaos.

8. The Dignity of the Human Spirit in Adversity

My husband, struggling to eat, to walk, to regain strength, sharing with me an article in the Times that caught his interest because of his concern for me, is an example of the dignity and worth of the human being in the place of excrement.

Hugh's gallant fight. Despite relentless physical setbacks—nausea, weight loss, internal bleeding, gout, a collapsed lung—Hugh maintained his dignity, humor, and concern for others. His ability to joke with nurses, engage with family, and even worry about Madeleine's work exemplified his unwavering spirit.

The actor's instrument. For Hugh, an actor, his body was his instrument, and its betrayal by illness was particularly cruel. Madeleine reflected on the profound humiliation and pain this caused him, emphasizing that curing disease is intertwined with the psyche, as humans are not "body alone."

Affirmation through care. The compassionate care from doctors and nurses, who saw Hugh as a person rather than just a patient, affirmed his worth. Madeleine's own presence, holding his hand, offering quiet love, was her way of honoring his dignity and affirming their forty years of shared life.

9. The Power of Choice and Acceptance in Dying

I want Hugh to live, dearly, dearly do I want him to live, if he can be returned to real life. But I do not want dying (rather than living) to be prolonged for him.

Difficult decisions. As Hugh's condition worsened, Madeleine faced the agonizing decision of whether to continue aggressive treatments or allow for a peaceful death. She and Hugh had long ago promised each other not to prolong dying, a promise she was determined to honor, even when he was too disoriented to make the choice himself.

Rejecting "heroic measures." The decision to write "NO CODE" into Hugh's chart was a conscious act of love, rejecting the technocracy that often prolongs suffering. Madeleine believed that God did not prolong Jesus's death, and that modern medicine, while saving lives, could also "prolong dying horrendously."

Acceptance and letting go. This choice, though incredibly difficult, brought a strange peace. It was an acceptance of the inevitable, a willingness to "fail" in the medical sense, but to succeed in honoring Hugh's wishes and their shared understanding of a dignified end. It was about letting go of beloved flesh, trusting in a love that transcends physical presence.

10. Love's Enduring Legacy: A Unity Beyond Death

I do not think that death can take away the fact that Hugh and I are 'we' and 'us,' a new creature born at the time of our marriage vows, which has grown along with us as our marriage has grown.

An indissoluble "we." Madeleine believed that their marriage had forged a "new creature"—a unified "we" that transcended their individual selves. This profound sense of oneness, cultivated over forty years, was so deeply ingrained that she doubted she could ever stop saying "we" and say "I" after Hugh's death.

Love as ultimate meaning. In the face of death, Madeleine found that the only meaning was love. She reflected on the mystery of the "Word made flesh," seeing it in Hugh's body, in all creation, and in the holy mysteries of bread and wine. This understanding affirmed that love is the ultimate reality, a force that cannot be disproved or extinguished.

Faith in the unknown. While acknowledging the unanswerable questions surrounding death and reunion, Madeleine held onto hope and mystery. Her faith was not for what could be proven, but for the inconceivable. She believed that God's love would provide continuing opportunities for learning, and that their love, like a precious pearl, was held by God, never wasted, and enduring beyond this life.