Bonjour Tristesse


    I am so glad that the past few weeks I have consistently enjoyed the books we have read. Bonjour Tristesse was filled with what reminded me a lot of high school drama. In reality I believe it was the results of both Cecile, the narrator and Raymond, her father struggling to let go of their youth. Anne, Raymond's latest fling turns out to be the change they both needed but Cecile especially did not want to accept into her life. Cecile begins the novella as a ignorant and honestly somewhat spoiled girl. She dislikes that the life she enjoyed living with her father is being changed by Anne, especially after she and Raymond decide to marry. It's not uncommon for kids to be upset when their parents remarry eventually but Cecile's plan to try to sabotage their relationship felt like a lot. I think she knew she was wrong, her frequent switches between feeling remorseful to guilty made it clear that part of her knew Anna was not actually that bad to have in her life. I was entirely unsurprised that Raymond eventually gave in to his jealousy from seeing Elsa with his daughters summer fling. On that note, I was pleasantly surprised that at the end Cecile admitted to herself that she had never loved Cyril. Her and her father both needing the wakeup call of Anne dying to get over themselves was ridiculous. Cecile especially was honestly being an awful person the whole story, using Elsa and Cyril to try to get what she wanted then dumping the poor boy in the end. What's more it seems that after all that, in the very end of the story she and her father have gone back about their old ways, although maybe just because they do not know how else to live. 
    All in all I found the entire story somewhat frustrating. It was interesting to read but as soon as I stop and think about it, I understand the name. It was just sad and entirely avoidable. Had Cecile not tried to opposite Parent Trap her father and Anne and instead tried to actually understand Anne's way of life and that she did care about Cecile. It definitely wasn't entirely her fault, Raymond's immaturity was also partially to blame but the two together were largely the cause of Anne's death. Once again, I wonder what could've been. Have the two learned anything from their experience, or will they revert entirely back to their immature and selfish ways once again? 

Comments

  1. David PeckhamFebruary 16, 2022 at 9:48 PM

    Hi Dee, I completely agree with you regarding the positive impact that Anne had in Cécile and her father's life. I did not consider how Raymond is responsible for Cécile's actions, as her father he should have better guided her and actively listened to her, instead of being somewhat absent when he enters his relationship with Anne.

    Overall a great analysis!

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    Replies
    1. DavidFebruary 16, 2022 at 9:51 PM

      To answer your last question, I am not entirely sure that Raymond learned anything, however I believe that Cécile has learned how much empathy and real understanding is important for personal relationships

      Delete
    2. David PeckhamFebruary 27, 2022 at 1:28 AM

      David Peckham

      Delete
  2. AquilaFebruary 16, 2022 at 11:47 PM

    Hi Dee! I enjoyed your post. I hadn't really truly thought about how Cecile might have been upset by her dad remarrying, to be honest I focused a lot more on how she was upset about her freedom being taken by Anne in a sense. But you brought up a really good point, especially as she is only seventeen, of course a lot of her motivations will be pretty simple. As you, her drama is like high school drama even though it changes into something more serious once we see Anne's fate.

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  3. Vidushi SinghFebruary 17, 2022 at 12:57 AM

    Hi Dee,
    I like how you pointed out how absurd it was that Anne's death is what gave Cécile and her father that wake up call. It really frustrated me how their immaturity took over their lives and costed a loved one's death. I also wonder if they will be returning to their easy-going lifestyle, but I have a strong feeling that they both may not be able to understand how to go back to it because Anne became change factor in their lives. Now that it's gone, it may be uncomfortable going back to as if she didn't cause any change at all.

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  4. Alyssa AlmerlingFebruary 17, 2022 at 11:01 AM

    Thanks for your post Dee! Anne definitely affected their life and her death was so tragic that I think it would take a long time to get back to a normal lifestyle. It will definitely be a big adjustment in her life. And I'm sure Anne is confused and overwhelmed with guilt.

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  5. Sidney GriggFebruary 17, 2022 at 12:40 PM

    Hi Dee!
    I think your comment about this book reminding you of high school drama is definitely accurate and is something I thought about too. I also agree that the title is very fitting as it provoked these unavoidable feelings of sadness. Your question is something to think about. After what occurred in the book, i would hope they learned from the actions that took place, but just based on what we know of the characters I cant help but think they will return to their more-so immature ways. But it's definitely tough to determine which outcome would have came to be...

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  6. Brianna ChristosFebruary 20, 2022 at 1:57 PM

    Hi Dee,

    great post! I really relate to your comparason of this text to that of a "highschool drama." I felt when I was reading it that it followed a very similar story line pattern to other texts, or even media that portrays dramas designed for a younger audience. I really liked your analysis at the end of your post, and I too wonder if this event was enough to help change the ways of Raymond and Cecile, or if it was only enough for them to breifly regret their past actions and continue on their path of selfishness and immaturity.

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