29 pages • 58 minutes read
The Princesse de Clèves (The Princess of Cleves)
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Essay Topics
Lafayette was a member of the French court during the reign of Louis XIV (100 years after the events of the novel). By observing court scandal so closely, do you think she does a service or a disservice to her courtly peers? Why?
How does marriage during Henri II’s reign differ from our own conception of marriage? What do they have in common?
Do you believe that Mme de Chartres was a good counsellor to her daughter?
How would you characterize the principle of “freedom” in the world Lafayette describes? Alternately, how are issues of authority handled?
Which of the characters, if any, have changed their ideas or personality by the end of the book? Describe the change.
How does M. de Clèves use the story of Mme de Tournon to establish a model of what he calls “sincerity”?
As an omniscient narrator, Lafayette is free to describe anything, including the working of any character’s mind. Yet there are several characters we only see in relation to the central characters, such as the Dauphine or Mme de Chartres. Why does the author let us into the thoughts and private behaviors of some characters but not others?
How does the male characters’ relative freedom to move around unescorted and speak their minds increase their capacity to do harm?
Is it always the right decision among intimate family members to tell the truth? Explain your answer.
How would you describe Lafayette’s attitude toward love? For instance, assuming a more fortuitous first meeting, would M. de Nemours and Mlle de Chartres have been happy together?
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