The Immoralist
André Gide
André Gide by Paul Fortier, 1988
The goal of this study is to pinpoint the
cause of the esthetical success of the
Immoralist.
Emile Blanche wrote to Gide that he
interpreted his work as a public declaration
of homosexuality.
Hello!
Written from whose point of view?
A. The author
The voice and content of the preface are
the result, in part, of Gide’s
disappointment with the sale of his work
and the negative judgment against it.
B. The Invisible Narrator
Reciting the three “I”. Michel’s
narrative is from sunset to sunrise.
A faithful transmission seem
impossible for a human being.
C. The Narrator as the Main Character (protagonist)
1. Michel told the whole text to his friends in
one night.
2. The text lacks the characteristics of oral
recitation:
- Long phrases
- Well- structured sentences
- Lacks of repetitions
- Long quotations
D. The Main Character as a Witness
Explains where he grew up, his fortune,
his illness…etc.
The Main Events
A. The period before Michel’s marriage
Summary of all events taking place
during a quarter of a century; dull life,
absence of real joy. All events were
presented in a specific light:
- His commitment as an integral part of
his father’s death
- His commitment as a result of
boredom.
B. The Marriage
The description of the wedding
- boring
- short dinner
- Marceline is not named
- no love
- Marceline is a transparent character
What are the themes presented in Michel’s youth?
- boredom
- death
- weakness
C. Health and illness – Marceline
She is healthy, very helpful, and has faith.
She becomes ill, accepts her fate, and keeps
her faith.
D. Health and healing – Michel
Denial and resistance
Marceline’s joy gave him a new vision.
Main Themes – Sickness and Health
A. Moral values are identified with Good
and Evil
In the narrator’s mind there are two universes
- Sickness represents Evil.
- Health represents Good.
B. The main character judges the world by
these two universes
- In relation to his wife.
- He does not identify with either universe.
- He acts according to the bond that exists
between his wife and the two universes.
Why was Michel disappointed at the end?
He did not find what constitutes Good
such as love, beauty, warmth, strength and
joy
Criticism of Gide’s style
- Artificial composition to justify Michel’s
philosophical elaboration.
- Elegant style and fascinating thoughts.