While I listened to the news with consternation and followed a bit of the debates between French bloggers on Twitter, I couldn’t help wondering “Which side would Marcel Proust take these days?” If I read La Prisonnière very literally, I wouldn’t be too optimistic and think he would be against this law. It was just a loud reminder that the door to the worse is always ajar and that contemptible behaviours just wait for an opportunity to spring free. A pro-law député received a threat in the form of a mail full of excrement. We have had pretty nasty comments and demonstrations from conservative and catholic militants. You’re probably not aware of this, but our députés are currently discussing a law that will legalize marriage for homosexuals. The book also echoed strangely with the current parliamentary session in France. When you’re yourself the target of racism or homophobia, how can you behave the same way toward other people? That question lingers in my head and I can’t grasp why the Narrator is so shocked by the idea of lesbian relationships. Knowing that Proust was a homosexual, being so against lesbians is as odd to me as black men being racist. Personally, I don’t understand why he makes such a difference between gays and lesbians. Speak of a knight in shining armor and what a sick basis for a relationship. Most of what he calls love holds by his imagined mission to save Albertine from lesbian encounters. de Charlus sexual orientation and his relationship with Morel, he is truly horrified by the idea that Albertine could be a lesbian. He’s obsessed by a question: is Albertine a lesbian? Is she acquainted with lesbians? While he casually speaks about M. His games lead them to break-up, which isn’t a spoiler since the next volume is called Albertine disparue ( Albertine Gone). The rest of the volume is still devoted to Marcel’s unhealthy behaviour and twisted relationship with Albertine. It reminded me of the worst sharks in the politics of big corporations. The description of her way of trapping him and going for the kill is masterly crafted. (Mme de Guermantes, Princesse de Guermantes…) She felt so humiliated by his behaviour that she decided to guillotine him from her Salon and cut him off Morel at the same time.

The man invited the high society to his party at her place and never introduced her to his elite crowd. de Charlus organized a music evening in the honour of Morel at the Verdurins’ and how he managed to mortally vex Madame Verdurin.

Sure, Marcel describes with shining details how M. Well, socializing doesn’t last long, so relief was short-lived. He’s socializing again and we’ll get some fresh air. I ended my previous post about The Captive with the following paragraph:Ĭhapter 2 is entitled: Les Verdurin se brouillent avec M.

La Prisonnière by Marcel Proust