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3.13 AVERAGE
3.13 AVERAGE
This is a fast-paced, flowing read, though I can see that some will become annoyed with the Chevalier's constant protestations, especially of nothing being his fault. I'm sure the story was quite scandalous for its time.
The fact that the Chevalier's story is actually being told by another narrator might be easily forgotten. The unnamed narrator says near the beginning that he is quoting the Chevalier's words with no interference, thus as verbatim as possible, which to my 21st-century mind immediately brings up the idea of an unreliable narrator, and whether that might be the narrator himself or the Chevalier. While the motivations for deceptive narrating are very easy to see in the case of the Chevalier, and are undoubtedly within the text, thus adding to the complexity of the Chevalier's character, what would be the motivation for the narrator? To avoid looking like one of the Chevalier's dupes? In that case, the veracity of the whole story would come into question, though I don't think that should be the case. Then there is the character of Manon. We only know what the Chevalier says and thinks about her, and there is a case to be made that she is very different from his depiction.
I'm sure the Abbe intended this to be a tragedy, but it read as a comedy to me with its over-the-top adventures, even through to the climax, which at first seemed tragic but only for a moment as the next thing we learn becomes another event in a sort of 'comedy of errors.' The Chevalier calls all of this his "fate."
In the unhistorical depiction of colonial New Orleans, I found humor as well, perhaps unintentional (and perhaps because I am from N.O.), especially in a passage where the Chevalier is rapturous about the colony, sounding almost like a tourist brochure. I do think it very significant, though, that the lovers end up in a land where their class differences no longer matters, though religion and the law do.
I have no doubt that I am imposing my 21st-century sensibilities onto this 18th-c novel. The theme of trying to make sense of an irrational emotion such as love, however, seems universal.
The fact that the Chevalier's story is actually being told by another narrator might be easily forgotten. The unnamed narrator says near the beginning that he is quoting the Chevalier's words with no interference, thus as verbatim as possible, which to my 21st-century mind immediately brings up the idea of an unreliable narrator, and whether that might be the narrator himself or the Chevalier. While the motivations for deceptive narrating are very easy to see in the case of the Chevalier, and are undoubtedly within the text, thus adding to the complexity of the Chevalier's character, what would be the motivation for the narrator? To avoid looking like one of the Chevalier's dupes? In that case, the veracity of the whole story would come into question, though I don't think that should be the case. Then there is the character of Manon. We only know what the Chevalier says and thinks about her, and there is a case to be made that she is very different from his depiction.
I'm sure the Abbe intended this to be a tragedy, but it read as a comedy to me with its over-the-top adventures, even through to the climax, which at first seemed tragic but only for a moment as the next thing we learn becomes another event in a sort of 'comedy of errors.' The Chevalier calls all of this his "fate."
In the unhistorical depiction of colonial New Orleans, I found humor as well, perhaps unintentional (and perhaps because I am from N.O.), especially in a passage where the Chevalier is rapturous about the colony, sounding almost like a tourist brochure. I do think it very significant, though, that the lovers end up in a land where their class differences no longer matters, though religion and the law do.
I have no doubt that I am imposing my 21st-century sensibilities onto this 18th-c novel. The theme of trying to make sense of an irrational emotion such as love, however, seems universal.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Zkoušela jsem to po x letech podruhé, ale ne... Manon prostě nikdy nebude knihou, kterou bych si zamilovala. Neskutečně kýčovitý, i když konec to lehce zachraňuje. Jediná postava jejíž chování chápu (nerovná se schvaluju) je Tbierge...
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Infidelity
Moderate: Death, Murder
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced