Relationships in Intertwined Lives In Intertwined Lives by Marge Piercy, Jill goes through many consecutive turbulent relationships with men. This pattern begins with her father, continues with her best friend, and then continues in many other relationships throughout her college years. Each relationship affects Jill and how she views men and herself. She has a very negative view of men. In fact, most male-female relationships in the novel are not positive experiences for the women involved. Jill's self-esteem is continually knocked down and ruined by every negative relationship she enters. Jill ultimately finds true happiness, but only after these meaningful relationships teach her to love herself. Jill's father was not caring or kind to Jill regarding any aspect of her life. He wanted a boy and got Jill instead. He treated her like the boy she wanted. She desperately wanted his love and attention and spent a lot of time trying to make him happy by acting like the son she wanted. "She wanted a boy. At 12 I made the big attempt... For months I sat there ...