Character: Michael

Michael is an important character, despite his absence through death in The Trick is to Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway.
As Joy’s deceased lover, his shadow looms over the narrative, affecting Joy’s mental health.
His character is revealed through flashbacks and Joy’s memories of their time together.
Michael was married to June when he had an affair with Joy, showing a sense of infidelity in his character.

Michael’s relationship with Joy is central to Joy’s current situation and forms a major part of the novel’s storyline.
It’s clear from Joy’s recollections that they shared a deep emotional connection, despite the illicit nature of their relationship.
However, his betrayal of his wife June completes the complex character triangle within the narrative.
His death leaves both women affected, but significantly, Joy is left alone and unsupported due to the secretive nature of their relationship.

While it’s evident that Joy greatly admired and loved Michael, his actions indirectly lead to Joy’s substantial emotional pain and mental deterioration.
The fact of his death triggers Joy’s horrendous grief and deep depression.
His absence creates an intense sense of loss and loneliness in Joy, which further compounds her mental state.

Betrayal: Michael’s infidelity and his betrayal of both his wife and Joy are central to his character and the narrative.
Loss: The theme of loss is embodied profoundly in Michael’s death and the aftermath it left on Joy’s life.
Love: Despite the destructive sides, Michael’s character also offers a narrative about love, its power and its capacity to inflict immense pain.

“He was not real, he was a trick of the light. Michael was a dream.” - These are Joy’s words, reflecting the idealised image she had of Michael.
“Michael was living a lie, a really good lie.” - This quote encapsulates Michael’s duplicity.
“His hands, I remember, always smelled of soap.” - A personal memory of Michael that indicates Joy’s lingering attachment to minute, humanising details about him.