The Lover by Duras: Naivety of the Adolescent Mind
Alright so after this read I feel as though a common trend in the books we are reading is that men are being consistently displayed as awful. We have encountered horrible husbands like Quimet in The Time of the Doves and Antonio in The Shrouded Woman, the brutish group of boys led by the weirdo Saro in Agostino, and the cheating Breton in Nadja. So why not add a male child predator to the list? Can't say I am too surprised.
One of the most striking themes of this novel is the fact that the young girl seems to believe that she has the "upper hand" in her relationship with the Chinese man. However, this perspective comes from the naivety of the adolescent mind and the lack of understanding of the reality of predatory dynamics. Her understanding of the Chinese man as "weak" is something that enabled him to manipulate her into believing she wasn't being exploited. "He's twelve years older than I, and this scares him" (40) - girl this should scare YOU. And the whole labeling the young girl as his child was ABSOLUTELY APPALLING. Like okay, just go ahead and dig yourself a deeper and more ethically egregious hole sir.
Another theme I found very interesting in this story was the differences in the racial, social, and financial status of the girl and the man. While the girl benefits from being white, she is faced with poverty; and while the man benefits from wealth, he is faced with existing within a marginalized group. This dynamic further complicates their relationship, yet at the same time reflects the idea that despite socioeconomic background, male-female power dynamics in the context of sexual harassment remain prevalent.
Finally, reflecting on this book, a theme I identified is the notion that "the more you know, the less you know". I usually think of this saying in the context of school - as a political science major, I find the more I learn about historically rooted dynamics, domestic politics, and international conflict, the more I feel as though I have so much to learn. This concept can be applied to the young girl: When she is 15, she thinks she knows everything. She thinks she is in control of the relationship, and that she is the one benefitting from the man's wealth. Whereas when she grows up, she gains a more comprehensive understanding of social dynamics.
A question for my peers: How do you think race, class, and wealth play a role in this book, with regards to the relationship between the man and the young girl?
The photo I have chosen below represents the clandestine relationship between the Chinese man and the young girl:
"...a theme I identified is the notion that "the more you know, the less you know". Although the narrator, now an adult, seems to be telling us that she does know certain things that she didn't know before, and that this moment in her life is relevant for some reason, so much so that she feels it's important to recreate it in her writing.
ReplyDeleteHi! 100% agree with the depiction of awful men in these book T^T as for your question, I think race play. huge role involving her family as they were not approved of them BUT very much approved of his wealth like somehow it is toleratable when the racialize lover comes with money. I also enjoy the aspect of wealth in her book. The lover has wealth but it comes with limitations. It wasn't his wealth but his father and he is emasculated by Duras throughout the book. The complexity of the roles are very enjoyable to read!
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