Combray by Proust: Dreaming While Awake
For this course's first reading, Combray by Marcel Proust, I was met with the challenge of breaking down an individual's thoughts as he recounted his life in an extremely detail oriented manner. As Proust recounted his story, he situated himself within his dark bedroom. I believe that this act was intentional, as lying in our beds at night is often the time in which we reflect upon the various memories that collectively form our life stories. Similarly, when describing his childhood, Proust also situated himself within his bedroom - this time his childhood bedroom - to explore the version of himself that once lay there. I believe that this choice of perspective allowed readers to gain insight directly into Proust's childhood, because it placed readers in the shoes of a young Proust. In the context of his childhood, a particular topic that Proust spent a significant amount of time reflecting on was his fondness for his mother. He recounted how his mother coming upstairs to...
