Probably just me, but I thought that his wife's confession was not just she loved another, but that she was pregnant with that person's child. Hence why he reacted the way he did. And another thought, I know he's the narrator, but does she apologize or does she think the confession suffices? Is a confession the same as an apology? (Trying not to give anything away, but was wondering especially as she doesn't seem to become Catholic till later? After his rejection of her and his numerous affairs.)
Really enjoying this book and the questions it raises.
Related to David's wondering whether men and women might respond differently, I thought one's experience of marriage or other familial estrangement might have more bearing on how one responds to the conflict of the book.
Between the epigraph and the author’s note, I went to page one assuming that he was simply a broken, wounded man, and that he was like that from his very earliest youth. If you want to blame something for “making him that way”, I think the book simply offers concupiscence as the reason. For the whole book, we are waiting to see if/when he will ever respond to Grace. It’s almost like reading the back story of Ebenezer Scrooge - like the whole time after he breaks it off with what’s her name but before the ghosts come to him. It also has a feel of The Screwtape Letters, only from the perspective of a patient who is being conquered by demons (ie, temptations) over and over again.
His whole life, his whole sense of self, is a festering wound. There’s only one cure for that!
When he calls his own heart a viper's tangle, I feel he is close to salvation, but a later moment, when he seems to exult that his own "good" children are more avaricious than he, reveals he is still in pride's grip.
It is truly a wrestling of and for the soul, and I can't tell yet if anyone in his life understands his struggles and desires his redemption. The other characters seem only to want him to behave better for selfish reasons.
Debbie, I finished, and I am in awe. I think it is one of the most beautiful and perfectly written stories I have ever read. The ending would not be possible without the beginning or without the deep dive into his soul. I would say it offers the greatest of metaphors.
I think the book has a Dante-esque quality, the premise being: this is the life of someone that makes their own hell in life and without repentance will continue to live it in eternity. Mauriac is giving us a taste of the life of someone we might meet in Inferno.
This section was a bit harder for me. It felt a little monotonous, but I was tired when I reading so it was probably just me. It’s definitely requiring some close reading. Re which, I did not think at all of the possibility of Luc being the narrator’s son, but maybe that means I am trusting him too much.
He certainly has pathos for me. I’m still thinking of Karenin, cold and closed off to all compassion - until maybe his wife is dying??…
I also was wondering about a spiritually allegorical reading of the novel, so I hope y’all come back to that. I can’t find the particular part now that it struck me, but it was somewhere he is addressing Isa in this section. Maybe about her “charity”.
I am wondering if the allegory is of the human heart in general and that salvation will only be gained when we recognize and repent of our own viper's tangle.
Probably just me, but I thought that his wife's confession was not just she loved another, but that she was pregnant with that person's child. Hence why he reacted the way he did. And another thought, I know he's the narrator, but does she apologize or does she think the confession suffices? Is a confession the same as an apology? (Trying not to give anything away, but was wondering especially as she doesn't seem to become Catholic till later? After his rejection of her and his numerous affairs.)
Really enjoying this book and the questions it raises.
I'm pretty sure she was Catholic from the beginning. He talks about going to Mass with her when they were courting.
Related to David's wondering whether men and women might respond differently, I thought one's experience of marriage or other familial estrangement might have more bearing on how one responds to the conflict of the book.
Between the epigraph and the author’s note, I went to page one assuming that he was simply a broken, wounded man, and that he was like that from his very earliest youth. If you want to blame something for “making him that way”, I think the book simply offers concupiscence as the reason. For the whole book, we are waiting to see if/when he will ever respond to Grace. It’s almost like reading the back story of Ebenezer Scrooge - like the whole time after he breaks it off with what’s her name but before the ghosts come to him. It also has a feel of The Screwtape Letters, only from the perspective of a patient who is being conquered by demons (ie, temptations) over and over again.
His whole life, his whole sense of self, is a festering wound. There’s only one cure for that!
It’s really the story of a soul. Which makes me wonder if Mauriac read The Story of a Soul by St Therese of Lisieux.
To be clear: Jesus. Jesus is the cure. 😉
And the epigraph from St Teresa of Avila - a Doctor of the Church - tells us, I think, that this is what Mauriac wants us to know.
When he calls his own heart a viper's tangle, I feel he is close to salvation, but a later moment, when he seems to exult that his own "good" children are more avaricious than he, reveals he is still in pride's grip.
I know! The back-and-forth is killing me.
It is truly a wrestling of and for the soul, and I can't tell yet if anyone in his life understands his struggles and desires his redemption. The other characters seem only to want him to behave better for selfish reasons.
I finished it this morning, so come back when you finish!
Debbie, I finished, and I am in awe. I think it is one of the most beautiful and perfectly written stories I have ever read. The ending would not be possible without the beginning or without the deep dive into his soul. I would say it offers the greatest of metaphors.
I think the book has a Dante-esque quality, the premise being: this is the life of someone that makes their own hell in life and without repentance will continue to live it in eternity. Mauriac is giving us a taste of the life of someone we might meet in Inferno.
This section was a bit harder for me. It felt a little monotonous, but I was tired when I reading so it was probably just me. It’s definitely requiring some close reading. Re which, I did not think at all of the possibility of Luc being the narrator’s son, but maybe that means I am trusting him too much.
He certainly has pathos for me. I’m still thinking of Karenin, cold and closed off to all compassion - until maybe his wife is dying??…
I also was wondering about a spiritually allegorical reading of the novel, so I hope y’all come back to that. I can’t find the particular part now that it struck me, but it was somewhere he is addressing Isa in this section. Maybe about her “charity”.
I am wondering if the allegory is of the human heart in general and that salvation will only be gained when we recognize and repent of our own viper's tangle.
I am really surprised how much I am finding this book a page turner! So good. Thanks for the great discussion.