"The Marriage Plot" is a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides that explores the complexities of love and relationships among three college friends in the early 1980s. The story centers on Madeleine Hanna, a literature student who is caught between her feelings for two very different men: Leonard Bankhead, a charismatic but troubled classmate, and Mitchell Grammaticus, a devoted friend who is infatuated with her. The narrative delves into themes of romance, mental illness, and the search for identity. As the characters navigate their emotional struggles, the novel reflects on the traditional marriage plot found in classic literature, questioning its relevance in contemporary life.