Monthly Archives: January 2022

Week 4- Bombal’s “The Shrouded Woman”

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I found The Shrouded Woman to be an easier read compared to Paris Peasant and Combray. The writing was descriptive but not overflowing with a lot of vivid details. The scenes also didn’t feel like they suddenly changed without a reason either. It is also my favorite novel so far, though I do wish I could’ve read this as a physical copy rather than on the computer. Nevertheless, I found it interesting that this novel was regarding Ana-Maria, who is a dead narrator as she talks about the people who have had a significant influence on her life. Although, it feels more unfortunate that Ana-Maria reflects more on the men in her life rather than her children or parents. 

Ana-Maria reflects on Ricardo, her first love when she was a teenager who had to move to Europe to “study scientific farming” (165). Ana-Maria asked Ricardo to marry her and take her with him, however, he refused as he doesn’t seem to think that being married to Ana-Maria would be beneficial to both his career and future. Ricardo’s rejection and departure broke Ana-Maria’s heart, as she cries to Zoila that he doesn’t love her anymore. However, ironically as Ricardo visits Ana-Maria on her deathbed, she “understands that this man had never remained entirely apart from her” (176). This is quite devastating, as she finally realizes Ricardo did- and still does love her on her deathbed. Thus, causes her to wonder “must we die in order to know?” (176), which is truly a philosophical yet heartbreaking question. I think in most situations, perhaps yes, since pride, ego, and fear of vulnerability often restrains people from being honest about their feelings. It would be interesting if we had Ricardo’s perspective on his relationship with Ana-Maria, and what his thoughts and emotions were when he visited her on her deathbed.

When Ana-Maria’s brother, Luis, visits her, I found this line to be quite powerful, “I remember there was a time when we loved each other very much; … a time you had forgotten but which my death reawakened in you” (180). It’s unfortunate that she was separated from him due to an outsider when they were once so close to each other. It’s quite tragic how sometimes people come to a realization of how much they love one another when it’s too late. Luis seeing Ana-Maria on her deathbed seemed to make him realize how much he once loved his sister, in a similar way to how Ana-Maria realizes how much Ricardo still loves her after all these years. Even though it’s not the same type of love, as one is a family type of love and the other is a romantic type, it’s still love that was realized after her passing.

A question I have for my classmates is why does Ana-Maria’s reflection focus more on the romantic relationships rather than her family, friends, and children? What could this also imply about our society today?

Week 3- Aragon’s “Paris Peasant”

Posted on by under aragon, Blogs, nostalgia, rmst202

Before reading Paris Peasant, I learned that this novel is more of a “novel-that-was-not-a-novel”, which was an idea I found quite interesting as I had never read a novel like this. Therefore, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from this novel. 

As I read the novel, I felt pretty lost, as what was happening in one paragraph seemed to immediately change in the next. I didn’t really understand what the plot of the story was, or whether there was even a plot. Even though the novel contained many details, I felt that instead of trying to picture the scenes in my head, I was struggling to stay focused as I didn’t understand what was happening in the first place. Many details of the story felt like a blur, but some things that stuck out to me was a sense of nostalgia. Perhaps that was the reason why there were so many vivid details, so the narrator could remember these memories as immensely as possible since all the places he had been familiar with would be gone soon. Just like how the Boulevard Haussmann Building Society closed down due to the passing of the owner. “But it is the real old-timers who are my favorites.” (36), which may further imply that the narrator is a nostalgic person, and he wants to hold onto the familiarity of his surroundings as long as possible before it is replaced. “I feel like a sailor aboard a ruined castle.” (48) was also a line that stuck out to me, as in time, the narrator will be a lost sailor (metaphorically speaking), as he has lost the city he has known, to an unfamiliar one with new places and new buildings. Thus, in a way, his castle (his home) is ruined when it is replaced. 

Another part of the story that stood out to me (in a more negative way) was how the narrator mentions that if there were films where women were the ones who approached men first, it “would have no success” (55). It really demonstrates societal expectations from the older times, where men are always expected and encouraged to make the first move, and women would most likely be shamed for doing so. In this century today, while it has significantly improved over the years, it still remains an issue. If a woman pursues a man, she may be labeled as “too forward” or “bold”. But why should they be labeled so negatively for simply being interested in someone? Isn’t it a good thing for people, in general, to know what they want, and to (respectfully) go after what they want?

Week 2- Proust’s “Combray”

Posted on by under Blogs, Combray, Proust, rmst202

Reading any books digitally always feels like a different unexplainable experience than having the physical copy in front of you. Proust’s “Combray” was the same too, I feel like perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I was able to have a physical copy of the book. However, I did still enjoy the story, as I liked the author’s descriptive language and use of metaphors. “I would rest my cheeks tenderly against the lovely cheeks of the pillow, which, full and fresh, are like the cheeks of our childhood.” (4). I find this quote especially interesting due to the narrator’s relationship with his parents. As the narrator seems to display some sort of obsession towards his mother, and also desiring his mother to kiss him before bed. While with the narrator’s father, it is rather the opposite, it seems that the narrator is afraid of his father. Thus, I find the quote rather interesting, as it seems that the narrator has perhaps always been lacking affection from his parents, which may imply that his parents may be distant from childhood, so his childhood may not be as “full” (4), in the quote mentioned. Along with how the quote is written with a sense of affection, which, unfortunately, the narrator did not seem to receive from his parents. As he “spend the greater part of the night remembering [his] life in the old days” (9), which feels sounds quite bittersweet in a way that it was relieving to know that he had some memorable times in the past, however, it seems that his way of recalling his memories of the past is a way for him to forget the reality.

I also find it rather interesting that a small lighting change is able to “destroy the familiarity which [his] bedroom had acquired for [him]” (9), however it may make sense as it further implies that the narrator is a nostalgic person and clings onto the good memories from the past and the things he is familiar with. Any sense of anything new or uncertainty tends to cause him to be uneasy, such as his anxiety whether his mother will give him a goodnight kiss.

I wonder if during the time and location the story took place if it was common that parents were not overly affectionate with their children, as when the mother gives the narrator a goodnight kiss, it would irritate the father. Why would the father be irritated by a simple goodnight kiss, especially when he keeps the narrator at home reading, instead of outside? As it may rule out the possibility that the father believes his son needs to be “manly” and should not receive physical affection, if he does not seem persistent on the narrator becoming “strong and active” (11).

RMST 202- Week 1: Intro

Posted on by under introduction, rmst202

A Quick Introduction About Me:
Hi everyone, my name is Tiffany and I am a first-year Arts student planning on majoring in Psychology and minoring in Commerce. I am looking forward to the books I will be reading this term for this course, as they all seem extremely intriguing, which is the main reason why I chose this class. The other reason why I chose this course was to fulfill my literature requirement. I was extremely grateful when I discovered this class was listed as a literature requirement. I am excited to learn about Romance Studies and to read the novels!

I hope to be able to provide interesting insights and thoughts regarding the novels I will read this term.

Reflecting on the First Lecture: 
I find it quite interesting how Romance Studies does not belong anywhere, however, at the same time, it is everywhere. As if Romance Studies itself, does not truly belong to anyone or anything, as nobody truly understands the whole concept of Romance Studies. However, Romance Studies is everywhere despite not being tied to a particular territory. I find it quite ironic in a way that betrayal is common among the Romance Languages, as translating these Romance Studies from its origin of Latin to different languages, such as French and Italian, is a betrayal itself. Since what we read is merely translations, I wonder if any of these translations are able to truly convey what the Romance Language wanted to express. As some meanings and expressions may not be carried over in translations or it may be changed. Perhaps this is the consequence of betraying the Romance Language, that non-Latin speakers will not truly understand what the Romance Language conveys.

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