Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan was a bittersweet book about Cecile, a 17-year-old girl, as she grows up and learns to navigate her personal relationships. Similar to last week’s text Agostino, it is another coming of age story that explores the main protagonist as they slowly drift from the parent they’re close to, and dislike the new relationship that enters their family. At the beginning of this book, Cecile did not think too deeply about her relationships as she did not like to be so introspective and self-analyzing. For her, she mainly viewed her relationships from a surface level perspective. She liked that her dad let her do whatever she liked and that he was fun and liked to party. She liked Cyril as he was her first love even though their relationship was a bit inappropriate as he was almost 10 years older than she was. She also initially was very fond of Anne, up until she and her dad decided they wanted to get married.
Upon hearing this announcement, I think that she wanted very badly to support it and to like their relationship. She even thought that after hearing their announcement, she no longer liked Elsa and the frivolous parties she associated with her. But once Anne started to interfere with her own life, she began to dislike her. I think that Anne always had the best intentions for Cecile and Raymon. All that Anne wanted for Cecile was to give her a bit of discipline, to focus on her studies and to cut off her immature relationship with Cyril. Cecile’s lack of motivation was clearly demonstrated when just after reading one hard passage from her philosophy book, she gave up right away and immediately placed the blame on Anne. Deep down she always knew Anne only meant the best, but the threat that she posed upon her freedom and spoiled lifestyle was more important to her. She is selfish, as once it was in her favour, she began to like Elsa more and convinced herself it is her that her dad loves not Anne. She only began to realize her faults at the end, when Anne died.
It is a sad ending, as it was Cecile’s true journey to growing up and realizing her selfish acts but at the cost of losing someone who truly cared for her and her dad. Overall, Francois Sagan delivered a compelling, a bit dramatic, coming of age story. Though I found it hard to like most of the spoiled, selfish and privileged characters of the book, the epiphanies the characters have in the end make up for it in some way.
My question is: Did Anne make any faults in trying to integrate herself into Cecile’s life? Was she ever in the wrong when she tried to intervene with her actions?
Tierra
February 14, 2022 — 2:20 pm
Hi Lilian, interesting post. I appreciated the coming-of-age aspect of the novel as well. There is no doubt that Cécile lived quite a free and undisciplined life with her father before Anne arrived, however, I wonder if she really was particularly selfish? Aren’t all teenage girls somewhat self-involved, purely because it’s difficult to see beyond one’s own trials and tribulations at that age? I think it’s easy to dislike Cécile’s character because she shows all her selfishness and vindictiveness, but to be fair, the other characters in the book aren’t exempt from having selfish thoughts, we just don’t hear them.
lilian taypin
February 15, 2022 — 12:26 pm
Hi Tierra!
I like the point you raise about how all teenage girls are somewhat self-involved, as Cecile was. It definitely was a big factor into her ‘selfish acts’, especially since this was only the beginning of her journey into being more mature.
neko smart
February 14, 2022 — 3:34 pm
Hi Lilian! Great post. I liked Cecile a lot, despite her selfishness. Sagan isn’t afraid of showing a character’s negative qualities, even at the risk of them losing their appeal to readers; I found this really interesting and it actually added to my reading experience as I was drawn further and further into the protagonist’s mind. In response to your question, I understand why Anne was trying to impose more boundaries and stricter rules into Cecile and her father’s lifestyle. I believe it was coming from a place of care. However, she could have been more mindful as she did it. Cecile had only had her father to herself for three years at this point, and Anne presumably should have understood that change needs to happen slowly and more gently if it’s to be taken seriously by a teenage girl.
lilian taypin
February 15, 2022 — 12:29 pm
Hi Neko!
Thanks for your response. Though I didn’t particularly like Cecile as a character, I think that an author showing a protagonists’ flaws definitely adds a lot of depth. I do also have to admit that it was more captivating to read about her throughout the book!
mikayla
February 14, 2022 — 8:30 pm
Hi Lilian! I agree, it was difficult to like the main character as she led quite a spoiled life. To answer your question, I think Anne meant well in trying to integrate into Cecile’s life, but she could have tried doing so in a less harsh way. For example, I think locking her up in her room was too far. Though Cecile seemed quite free and undisciplined, I feel like Anne shouldn’t have gone to that extreme to control her.
lilian taypin
February 15, 2022 — 12:33 pm
Hi Mikayla!
Thanks for your response, you are right in that Anne should have been less harsh in trying discipline Cecile. I also think that she should have made Cecile more understanding that she only wanted right for her, rather than first trying to make her feel bad for her actions.