Hello again blog :))
So….. Combray huh….. When I read the part of the introduction that says Proust’s texts are known to be complex because of his “famously long sentences”, I braced myself for a text full of sentences that an English teacher would be disappointed at. But reading this book and seeing one sentence span 10 lines on page 12 of reading, I realized I grossly underestimated what kind of monster “famously long sentences” was warning me about. The number of clauses within one sentence would get an English teacher to retire. This was a tough read, but not because I did not find the story compelling, but because the text never managed to capture my attention because of how it went on and on and on…. So I feel like I remember the first half of the book a lot better than the second half, since I was actively forcing myself to lock in and pay attention. Nonetheless, here’s what I thought about Combray-
This book managed to communicate the theme of recognition in a way I have never seen before (pun intended). It discussed how the small changes to something or somewhere can completely warp your perception, and you may no longer feel safe in that place because of that. We see that right at the beginning of the book, when he very extensively talks about the light figures spinning around his room. He complains that these lights sometimes make the room unfamiliar to him, changing the space beyond his scope of recognition. Introducing the theme of recognition by explaining what happens when it’s not there truly blew my mind.
Further into recognition, I have to mention the infamous Madelaine scene. Proust managed to articulate what a sudden burst of memories feels like beautifully through this scene. It reminded me of what it feels like to sit with your friends, and hear them tell a story you can’t remember, but it slowly comes back to you as they continue, and suddenly you remember everything and go OOOOOOOOOH YEEEAAAAAHH THAT HAPPENED.
One thing Proust did that impressed me was that he constantly called back to light. From the light figures in his room to how the sun hit the church windows, he constantly brings attention to how the sun and light affect the environment around him. I would say he did it subtly, but when you write sentences as long as he did, things have a hard time staying subtle.
Something else that really impressed me was just how sad everything was. He was happy to remember Combray, but so many of the things he describes are tinted with sadness and sorrow, including how he felt. I couldn’t tell if everything was that sad because he was just depressed, or if it was both depression and pure sorrow.
I feel like maybe he kept bringing our attention to the light as a contrast to all this sadness. Almost like the light at the end of the tunnel, the goods and the bads. For example, the light figures were in his room because even though he was upset his mother was not with him, he ultimately had good memories of the space.
Last thing before I go, I need to bring up the kissing mommy and mommy tucking me in thing. What the fuck…? Just… What?? Look, at first I was like “okay it’s weird, but he just reeeally wants to be tucked in”, but then he goes on to talk about M Swann, and we think he moved on, but then he closes that out with “but I didn’t like that he came over because mommy wouldn’t tuck me in and kiss me goodnight” OUT OF NOWHERE. I was speechless and pissed off. Just, what….?
Anyways, I am grateful this is apparently the toughest read of the semester, but it was still a very cool read!! Awesome motifs, but we need a moment of silence for the English teachers out there.
Alrighty, see ya next time!!! :)))