Due to some sort of misunderstanding, the most famous chapter of the “Search” is undoubtedly ‘A Love of…’

Due to a sort of misunderstanding, the most famous chapter of the “Search” is undoubtedly ‘Swann in Love’ 👨🏻‍🦰, which follows ‘Combray’ 👦🏻 in the first volume, “Swann's Way”, published in 1913 📗.

Why do I mention a misunderstanding? Because this chapter is the one in which Proust employs a classical, chronological narrative 🕰️, in the third person singular, which is entirely in keeping with the conventions of the nineteenth-century novel – and which the rest of “The Search” contradicts, by exploring the characters’ psychology over time, building the narrative on the arcs of reminiscence, and the ‘I’.

Be that as it may, Charles Swann and Odette de Crécy had been in love twenty years earlier, and as you know, the sonata composed by Vinteuil had become the national anthem of their love. But after love had disappointed Swann 💔, and before we learnt that he had married Odette ❤️‍🩹, he continued to frequent the salons, listening to music there, and this is what happened:

🖋️ “And before Swann had had time to realise it, and to say to himself: ‘That’s the little phrase from Vinteuil’s sonata – let’s not listen!’” 🎹🎻 all his memories of the time when Odette was in love with him, and which he had until that day managed to keep hidden in the depths of his being, deceived by this sudden flash of the time of love which they believed had returned, had been reawakened and, on wings 🪽, had soared up to sing to him, madly and without pity for his present misfortune, the forgotten refrains of happiness.”

And we can see that the sonata for Swann was already the equivalent of what the madeleine is to the narrator, namely the vehicle for involuntary memory, which transcends the order of time and, through a powerful emotion, triggers a moment of self-awareness. ✨

Can you spot any other strong links between Charles and Marcel? 🗳️ Let us know in the comments! 📝

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#MarcelProust #proustagram #ÀlaRechercheduTempsperdu #DucôtédechezSwann #UnamourdeSwann #RTP