Sarrasine
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| Sarrasine | |
|---|---|
| Title | Sarrasine |
| Author | Honoré de Balzac |
| Language | French |
| Genre | Short story |
| Published in | La Revue de Paris |
| Publication date | 1830 |
Sarrasine is a short story by Honoré de Balzac, first published in La Revue de Paris in 1830. The story is part of La Comédie humaine, a vast collection of novels and short stories that explores the lives of the French people during the Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy. Honoré de Balzac is considered one of the founders of the realist movement in French literature, along with Gustave Flaubert and Stendhal. The story of Sarrasine has been compared to other works of French literature, such as Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert and The Red and the Black by Stendhal.
Introduction
The story of Sarrasine is set in Paris during the 18th century and revolves around the life of a young sculptor named Ernest-Jean Sarrasine. The narrative is presented as a frame story, with a young man telling the story of Sarrasine to a Marquise de Rochefide, a French aristocrat. The story explores the themes of love, art, and identity, all of which were common in the works of French writers such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Denis Diderot. The French Enlightenment had a significant influence on the development of French literature, with writers such as Pierre de Marivaux and François-René de Chateaubriand contributing to the literary movement.
Plot
The plot of Sarrasine follows the life of Ernest-Jean Sarrasine, a young sculptor who becomes obsessed with a castrato singer named Zambinella. Sarrasine's obsession with Zambinella leads him to create a bust of the singer, which becomes a masterpiece of French art. However, Sarrasine's love for Zambinella is unrequited, and he eventually discovers that Zambinella is actually a castrato. The story has been compared to other works of French literature, such as Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos and Dangerous Liaisons by Christopher Hampton. The French Revolution had a significant impact on the development of French literature, with writers such as Maximilien Robespierre and Georges Danton contributing to the literary movement.
Characters
The characters in Sarrasine are complex and multi-dimensional, with each character representing a different aspect of French society. The character of Ernest-Jean Sarrasine is a representation of the French artist, while the character of Zambinella represents the Italian castrato. The character of the Marquise de Rochefide represents the French aristocracy, while the character of the young man who tells the story represents the French bourgeoisie. Other notable characters in the story include Cardinal Cicognara, a Catholic cardinal, and Prince Chigi, an Italian nobleman. The characters in the story have been compared to those in other works of French literature, such as The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo.
Themes
The themes of Sarrasine are complex and multi-layered, with each theme representing a different aspect of French culture. The theme of love is a dominant theme in the story, with Sarrasine's love for Zambinella representing the all-consuming passion of the French artist. The theme of art is also a dominant theme, with Sarrasine's creation of the bust of Zambinella representing the creative genius of the French artist. The theme of identity is also explored in the story, with Sarrasine's discovery of Zambinella's true identity representing the complexity of human identity. The themes in the story have been compared to those in other works of French literature, such as The Stranger by Albert Camus and The Plague by Albert Camus.
Publication History
Sarrasine was first published in La Revue de Paris in 1830. The story was later included in La Comédie humaine, a vast collection of novels and short stories by Honoré de Balzac. The story has been translated into many languages, including English, Spanish, and German. The publication history of Sarrasine is similar to that of other works of French literature, such as Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert and The Red and the Black by Stendhal. The story has been published by many notable publishing houses, including Gallimard and Penguin Books.
Reception and Influence
The reception of Sarrasine was mixed, with some critics praising the story's complexity and depth, while others criticized its morality and taste. The story has had a significant influence on the development of French literature, with many writers, including Gustave Flaubert and Émile Zola, citing Honoré de Balzac as a major influence. The story has also been adapted into many forms of media, including film and theater. The influence of Sarrasine can be seen in many other works of French literature, including The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. The story has been recognized with many notable literary awards, including the Prix Goncourt and the Prix Femina.