I am grateful for the fact that as we read these books throughout the year, the time each is written in is getting more and more modern, and thus I feel like the language used is almost easier for me to understand as well. However what strikes me is the material of much of the literature that we do read, perhaps it is by chance, but why do so many of the works include weird sexual themes and perverse elements?
I realize that for many of the books in this course like The Lover, the story is written as a semi-autobiographical piece and that these events did probably occur. Are people who experience events like these driven by something to write about them? The translator of this book states that the relationship with the older man gave the author something to write about, to fulfill her dream as a writer. Maybe these events highlight the uncomfortable nature of human life, that these elements do exist and through literature, we can learn how they affect us (as a reader and writer). Many of the books we’ve read so far have included sexual themes such as cheating or pedophilia, and I wonder how society has changed regarding these topics, and that my reaction to reading these books could be the same or different than someone reading it at the time it was written.
As mentioned in the lecture it is unclear who is “predating” on whom and the narrator does state a sense of control in her encounters with the older man, but no matter how much she says she’s in control I can’t help but feel that that isn’t the case. Possibly Duras writes this book to put her own power on the events that happened long ago.
I do think that this book was written quite well, with little actual dialogue (the use of “”), it strengthens the feeling that the narrator is recalling her life, and thus the recollection is often disjointed and jumps around time. Like the other books we have read so far, I enjoy reading this style of narration, where it seems like the narrator is a human too and I am simply next to them to hear them tell their story. I feel like the lack of dialogue also emphasizes a sense of silence, that in the bustling city, there is someone who lives often in her own head. 3.5/5
For this week’s question: There is a movie adapted in 1992 for this book, do you think that any of the other books we have read can be made into a critically-acclaimed movie today?
Jonathan, I’m glad to hear that the language is becoming more legible for you! The sexual themes weren’t something planned but I like your reflection about what the presence of them might say about the world at large – culture is, after all, a product of its time. YOu also bring up the writing style, you make a very good point about the heavy memoire style.
Thanks for your comment!
– Tesi
It’s interesting how “The Lover” by Marguerite Duras dives into heavy themes like relationships and control, especially considering it’s semi-autobiographical. You’re right about the language becoming more relatable in modern books, but it’s the intense, sometimes uncomfortable subjects like the ones in “The Lover” that catch our attention. It seems like writing about personal, even taboo experiences is a way for authors like Duras to process their own lives and challenge us as readers to think about tough topics.
Hi there! I think all these books could have a movie made based on them. All these books have great depth and have relevant contemporary issues. They all have quite complex characters that I think would work well in films.
I really like how you related the book to its cinema adaptation. Personally, I haven’t watched this one. However, I do acknowledge that a lot of times the cinema adaptations do not capture my interest as much as the novels. Sometimes they are even unable to accurately represent the main themes of the books as a whole. I think a lot of the books we read this term may fall victim to that, because what makes them so special is the writing styles, and I feel like that it is rare that movies are able to recreate that or perfect it.
ooooooohhhhh I loveeee this question!! I think that the shrouded woman could definitely be one of those soppy romance movies but then in the end she realises she only needs herself but at that point its too late and the audience sees that she has just been replying her life in death.