Marlen: The Reluctant Prophet of I Think We've Been Here Before
Overview and Plot Role
Marlen is the husband of Hilda and father of Nora in Suzy Krause’s speculative fiction novel I Think We’ve Been Here Before. He is a former high school teacher and an aspiring writer who, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, secretly writes and publishes a novel about a gamma‑ray burst that destroys civilization. His book uncannily begins to mirror the family’s real‑life situation when a real gamma‑ray burst is announced, forcing Marlen to grapple with the weight of his own prophecy. He functions as both a emotional anchor for his family and a symbol of the novel’s central themes of déjà vu and repetition, grief and mortality, and art as a coping mechanism. Unlike a typical prophet, Marlen is reluctant, often uncertain, and deeply human—his predictions come not from grand visions but from a creeping intuition he can neither explain nor escape.
Motivations and Key Traits
Marlen’s primary motivation is to leave a lasting testament of his love for his family. He writes the novel as a secret project, hoping to present it to Hilda as a surprise. This secret‑keeping reveals a protective, even slightly avoidant side: he lies about a box of textbooks (chapter 9) and downplays his illness to shield his wife from further pain. His humor—making jokes at the Thanksgiving dinner where Hilda announces his cancer—is a coping mechanism that often backfires, irritating Hilda and underscoring his difficulty facing reality head‑on. Yet beneath the jokes lies a fierce love: he aches for his daughter Nora when she is stranded in Berlin, wrapping himself in her pink tie‑dye comforter (chapter 20). He is intellectually curious, loves sharing random trivia, and possesses an almost mystical sensitivity to patterns—the same trait that led him to predict a friend’s accident as a child and later to write his novel.
Chronological Arc
Marlen’s arc moves from denial to reluctant acceptance and finally to a quiet hope. In the early chapters, he tries to maintain normalcy, joking about his cancer and hiding the published book. When the gamma‑ray burst announcement comes, he initially reassures the family with science but quickly loses confidence. His arc deepens as he struggles to sync with Hilda—they are “out of sync” like a three‑legged race (chapter 14). The arrival of his book box (chapter 17) marks a turning point: he opens it alone, and while reading his own words, he realizes that the threat is not “ignorable” but “invisible,” a far more frightening truth. He later gives the book to Hilda (chapter 23), an act of vulnerability that strengthens their bond. In the final chapters, as the apocalypse approaches, Marlen reads his novel aloud to the family and explains its philosophical premise—nested lifetimes in which people repeat their lives, making tiny changes until they become perfect. This speech, given in the basement on what may be Christmas Eve, reveals a man who has moved from fear to a profound, if speculative, comfort.
Relationships
With Hilda: Their relationship is the emotional heart of the novel. Marlen and Hilda share deep love but also moments of friction. Hilda feels envy over his peaceful acceptance of death; Marlen worries his book might bother her. They play a “fact‑sharing game” and hold hands to stay connected. By the end, Hilda finishes his book and finds it comforting, and they sit together in an armchair as the world ends.
With Nora: Marlen ache for Nora’s return is palpable. He remembers her boyfriend’s name only as “Jacob” but second‑guesses himself (chapter 20). He supports her independence, telling Hilda that Nora is “like you” (strong) rather than like him (controlling). When Nora finally calls to say she’s coming home, Marlen feels no surprise—he already “knew” through his writing.
With Derek: Marlen holds a grudge against Nora’s ex‑boyfriend Derek, openly hating him and making loud, embarrassing remarks when they encounter him at the Pot Hole (chapter 14). This demonstrates his protective, sometimes petty, side.
With the Extended Family: Marlen is on a pedestal for his knowledge; the family looks to him as a prophet after they discover his book predicts their reality. He is gentle with Iver and patiently explains his novel’s premise to Ole.
Key Decisions and Consequences
- Writing and publishing the novel: This decision shapes the entire narrative. It forces Marlen to confront his intuition about his own death and the apocalypse, and it gives Hilda a sense of hope (she loves the ending where the characters do not truly die).
- Hiding the cancer from Nora: Marlen insists on not telling Nora initially, wanting to protect her. This decision causes tension with Hilda, who values honesty. However, Nora forgives quickly when she learns, and the family reunites.
- Making dark jokes in public: At the Pot Hole, Marlen loudly says “how quickly you get used to dying” (chapter 14), embarrassing Hilda but revealing his way of coping with fear.
- Accepting the apocalypse with Hilda: Instead of fighting, he supports her painting murals and helps set up the Christmas tree early. This leads to a deeper emotional bond in their final days.
Themes and Symbolism
Marlen embodies the theme of denial versus acceptance. His journey from joking about his cancer to philosophically embracing the idea of infinite resets mirrors the novel’s exploration of how people face inevitable endings. He is also a symbol of family bonds under crisis: his illness and his book become catalysts for the family to gather, forgive, and love fiercely. The painted murals Hilda creates are partly inspired by Marlen’s encouragement, connecting to the theme of art as coping. Finally, his prophecy—that the story will start again “but better”—ties directly to the ending explanation and the novel’s central paradox of déjà vu as both a curse and a chance for redemption.
Character Questions and Answers
1. Why does Marlen keep his novel a secret from Hilda?
Marlen wants the reveal to be a meaningful surprise, a testament to his love. He also worries the topic—a gamma‑ray burst ending the world—might seem insensitive given his terminal diagnosis. He hides the box of books and lies about it being textbooks (chapter 9) to maintain the surprise.
2. How does Marlen’s childhood prophecy connect to the plot?
As a child, Marlen accurately predicted that a friend would be hit in the head (chapter 6). This early experience establishes his uncanny intuition. Decades later, that same “urgent feeling” compels him to write his novel. The novel then predicts the real gamma‑ray burst, linking past and present and fueling the family’s belief that he may be a genuine prophet.
3. What is Marlen’s attitude toward death by the end of the novel?
Marlen moves from fear to acceptance, but not without struggle. He fears dying before his family and before seeing Nora again. However, by the basement scene (chapter 72), he offers a hopeful interpretation: death is not an end but a reset, allowing people to live repeated lifetimes until they get it right. He reads his book aloud while Hilda rests against him, showing peace.
4. How does Marlen’s relationship with Hilda evolve after the diagnosis?
Initially, they are out of sync, with Marlen napping through opportunities to connect and making jokes that hurt Hilda. Over time, they learn to communicate better: he supports her painting, they play fact‑sharing games, and he reveals his book to her. By the end, they hold hands and sit together, having reached a deeper intimacy.
5. Why does Marlen say he has “met” Jacob before (chapter 66)?
When Jacob arrives at the farm, Marlen shakes his hand and claims they have met. This is not explained in the text, but it echoes the déjà vu that Nora and Jacob experienced upon their first meeting in Berlin. Marlen’s statement adds to the novel’s theme of repeated connections across lifetimes, suggesting that even Marlen may be sensing the cycle.
For further exploration of these ideas, see the full book overview and the questions and answers section.