Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from The Princess of Cleves, by Madame de La Fayette
The Duke de Nemours' passion for Madam de Cleves was at first so
violent, that he had no relish left for any of the ladies he paid his
addresses to before, and with whom he kept a correspondence during his
absence; he even lost all remembrance of his engagements with them, and
not only made it his business to find out excuses to break with them,
but had not the patience to hear their complaints, or make any answer
to the reproaches they laid upon him. The Queen-Dauphin herself, for
whom his regards had been very tender, could no longer preserve a place
in that heart which was now devoted to the Princess of Cleves. His
impatience of making a tour to England began to abate, and he showed no
earnestness in hastening his equipage. He frequently went to the
Queen-Dauphin's Court, because the Princess of Cleves was often there,
and he was very easy in leaving people in the opinion they had of his
passion for that Queen; he put so great a value on Madam de Cleves,
that he resolved to be rather wanting in giving proofs of his love,
than to hazard its being publicly known; he did not so much as speak of
it to the Viscount de Chartres, who was his intimate friend, and from
whom he concealed nothing; the truth is, he conducted this affair with
so much discretion, that nobody suspected he was in love with Madam de
Cleves, except the Chevalier de Guise; and she would scarcely have
perceived it herself, if the inclination she had for him had not led
her into a particular attention to all his actions, but which she was
convinced of it.
She no longer continued to have the same disposition to communicate to
her mother what she thought concerning the Duke de Nemours, as she had
to talk to her about her other lovers; though she had no settled design
of concealing it from her, yet she did not speak of it. Madam de
Chartres, however, plainly perceived the Duke's attachment to her
daughter, as well as her daughter's inclination for him; the knowledge
of this could not but sensibly afflict her, nor could she be ignorant
of the danger this young lady was in, in being beloved by, and loving
so accomplished a person as the Duke de Nemours: she was entirely
confirmed in the suspicion she had of this business, by an incident
which fell out a few days after.
The Mareschal de St. Andre, who took all opportunities to show his
magnificence, desired the King, under pretence of showing him his house
which was just finished, to do him the honour to sup there with the two
Queens. The Mareschal was also very glad to display, in the sight of
the Princess of Cleves, that splendid and expensive manner of life,
which he carried to so great a profusion.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Princess of Cleves by Madame de Lafayette
Context of the Work
The Princess of Cleves (La Princesse de Clèves, 1678) is a foundational novel of French classical literature, often considered one of the first psychological novels. Written by Madame de Lafayette, it is set in the French royal court of Henry II (mid-16th century) and explores themes of love, duty, passion, and moral conflict within the rigid social structures of aristocratic society.
The novel follows Mademoiselle de Chartres, a young noblewoman who marries the Prince of Cleves but falls in love with the Duke de Nemours, a charming and accomplished courtier. The excerpt provided focuses on the emergence of the Duke’s passion for the Princess and the subtle, dangerous dynamics of courtly love, where reputation, secrecy, and social performance dictate behavior.
Analysis of the Excerpt
1. The Duke de Nemours’ Obsession (First Paragraph)
The passage begins by describing the intensity of the Duke de Nemours’ infatuation with the Princess of Cleves. His passion is so overwhelming that it erases all previous romantic attachments, including his relationship with the Queen-Dauphin (Mary Stuart, future Queen of Scots).
- "His passion... was at first so violent" → The language suggests an uncontrollable, almost destructive force, typical of courtly love (a medieval and Renaissance tradition where love is idealized but often unrequited or forbidden).
- "He lost all remembrance of his engagements" → His obsession is all-consuming, making him neglect his former lovers without remorse.
- "He showed no earnestness in hastening his equipage [for England]" → His prior obligations (including a diplomatic trip) become unimportant compared to his desire to remain near the Princess.
Literary Device: Hyperbole The exaggerated description of his passion ("no relish left for any of the ladies") emphasizes the extreme, almost irrational nature of courtly love, where one’s entire being is consumed by a single object of desire.
Themes:
- Love vs. Duty – The Duke abandons his responsibilities (both romantic and political) for his passion.
- Secrecy & Reputation – He hides his feelings to avoid scandal, a recurring concern in courtly society where appearances matter more than truth.
2. The Duke’s Discretion (Middle of First Paragraph)
Despite his intense feelings, the Duke actively conceals his love to protect the Princess’ reputation.
- "He put so great a value on Madam de Cleves, that he resolved to be rather wanting in giving proofs of his love, than to hazard its being publicly known" → His respect for her overrides his desire to declare his love openly.
- "He did not so much as speak of it to the Viscount de Chartres, his intimate friend" → Even his closest confidant is kept in the dark, showing extreme caution.
Literary Device: Irony
- The Duke’s passion is obvious to everyone except the Princess herself (and even she only suspects it because of her own feelings).
- The Chevalier de Guise (a notorious womanizer and political figure) is the only one who notices, suggesting that true love is invisible to most but apparent to those who understand desire.
Themes:
- The Performance of Love – At court, emotions must be hidden behind politeness and strategy.
- Danger of Passion – The Duke’s restraint is both noble and risky; if discovered, it could ruin the Princess’ reputation.
3. The Princess’ Awareness & Silence (Second Paragraph)
The Princess, though drawn to the Duke, does not confide in her mother (Madam de Chartres) as she once did with other suitors.
- "She no longer continued to have the same disposition to communicate to her mother what she thought concerning the Duke de Nemours" → Her silence suggests shame, fear, or the uniqueness of this attachment.
- "Though she had no settled design of concealing it, yet she did not speak of it" → Her hesitation implies an internal conflict—she knows this love is dangerous.
Literary Device: Psychological Realism Lafayette delves into the Princess’ unspoken thoughts, a groundbreaking technique in 17th-century literature. The absence of direct confession makes her struggle more relatable and tense.
Themes:
- Mother-Daughter Relationship – Madam de Chartres is perceptive and protective, sensing the danger.
- Forbidden Love – The Princess’ silence mirrors the Duke’s discretion, reinforcing the taboo nature of their connection.
4. Madam de Chartres’ Anxiety (End of Second Paragraph)
The Princess’ mother, Madam de Chartres, intuits the truth and fears the consequences.
- "Madam de Chartres... plainly perceived the Duke's attachment to her daughter, as well as her daughter's inclination for him" → Her maternal instinct warns her of the peril.
- "The knowledge of this could not but sensibly afflict her" → She understands the social risks: if the Duke’s love is exposed, the Princess’ honor and marriage could be destroyed.
Themes:
- Social Constraints – In the hierarchical court, a woman’s reputation is fragile; even suspicion can be damaging.
- Fatalism – The mother’s fear foreshadows tragedy, as the novel later explores the impossibility of happy love in such a world.
5. The Maréchal de St. André’s Ball (Final Paragraph)
The excerpt ends with a seemingly unrelated but symbolically charged event: a lavish ball hosted by the Maréchal de St. André, a rival nobleman.
- "The Mareschal de St. Andre... desired the King... to do him the honour to sup there with the two Queens" → This is a display of wealth and power, typical of courtly competition.
- "He was also very glad to display... that splendid and expensive manner of life... in the sight of the Princess of Cleves" → His ostentatious display is a challenge, possibly provoking the Duke’s jealousy or testing the Princess’ loyalty.
Literary Device: Foreshadowing & Symbolism
- The ball represents the artificial, competitive world of the court, where love and power intertwine.
- The Maréchal’s magnificence contrasts with the Duke’s restrained passion, setting up future conflicts and revelations.
Themes:
- Courtly Rivalry – Nobles compete for status, influence, and the favor of women.
- Appearance vs. Reality – The glittering surface of the ball masks underlying tensions (jealousy, unspoken love, political maneuvering).
Significance of the Excerpt
- Psychological Depth – Lafayette explores the inner lives of her characters, a novelty in 17th-century literature.
- Critique of Courtly Love – The passage exposes the dangers of passion in a society where reputation is everything.
- Feminine Agency & Constraint – The Princess’ silence and her mother’s fear highlight the limited options available to women in a patriarchal court.
- Tragic Foreshadowing – The hidden love, the ball, and Madam de Chartres’ anxiety all hint at future suffering, aligning with the novel’s melancholic tone.
Conclusion
This excerpt captures the tension between desire and duty that defines The Princess of Cleves. The Duke’s passion, the Princess’ conflicted silence, and the looming threat of scandal create a sense of inevitable tragedy. Lafayette’s subtle psychological insights and critique of aristocratic hypocrisy make this not just a love story, but a profound meditation on human nature and society.
The ball at the end serves as a microcosm of the court’s dangers—where love is a game, reputation is currency, and one false step can lead to ruin.