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The Goodnight Kiss (Close Reading of Proust) (Patreon)

Published:
2021-08-30 11:30:15
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

We're leafing through pages 10-14 (or 14-18 in the Everyman edition) of Proust's resplendent masterpiece.

We shall explore Freud's 'Oedipus Complex', the goodnight kiss from Marcel's Mamma, Hamlet's opening soliloquy, what we mean when we say a novel is "Modernist", what makes a psychologically complex character, how to analyse language and pick out themes, gentlemen's clubs, the bourgeoisie, and why Proust likens Monsieur Swann's hair to Bressant.

I've bolded my favourite parts if you're short on time. I personally find learning about the actor Jean Baptiste Bressant, whose hairstyle Swann mimics, and discussions on Modernism to illuminating.

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00 deep-reading the goodnight kiss scene
  • 3:45 Freud's 'Oedipus Complex'
  • 9:00 biographic readings and refracted mirrors
  • 10:00 Proust led a life of Allegory
  • 13:00 Hamlet and the 'Oedipus Complex'
  • 16:45 what is Modernism?
  • 20:00 'Combray' vs 'Swann in Love'
  • 21:00 what makes a character psychologically complex?
  • 22:00 what is a semantic field and lexis?
  • 29:00 what is the Bressant style?
  • 33:00 what makes us love a character?
  • 35:00 gentleman's clubs and the bourgeoisie 

Let us know:

How are you enjoying the Search so far?

Please do share any meditations or musings you might have, great or small!

Questions to mull over:

1) Do you find it useful or interesting to read Proust through a Freudian lens?

2) Do you like Modernist texts? If so, and time of writing aside, would one characterise Proust as a Modern writer?

Happy Prousting!

Files

Previews only

The Goodnight Kiss (& Meeting M. Swann) - Proust's In Search of Lost Time (Pages 10-14)

0:00 deep-reading the goodnight kiss scene 3:45 Freud's 'Oedipus Complex' 9:00 biographic readings and refracted mirrors 10:00 Proust led a life of Allegory 13:00 Hamlet and the 'Oedipus Complex' 16:45 what is Modernism? 20:00 'Combray' vs 'Swann in Love' 21:00 what makes a character psychologically complex? 22:00 what is a semantic field and lexis? 29:00 what is the Bressant style? 33:00 what makes us love a character? 35:00 gentleman's clubs and the bourgeoisie

Comments

Vandana

For example, a lot of jobs in urban areas are still relegated to the Dalits and the social inequality and injustice is undeniable. Needless to say I have extremely strong feelings against this.

hardcoreliterature
>>67426774

I found something very similar when I lived in Japan. The Dalits in Japan, historically, are called Burakumin. People don't really want to acknowledge that this is a thing, but they lived in their own neighbourhoods, which realtors would put a black mark over to avoid, and would have to work jobs to do with death and blood (typically tannery).

Sharon xx

Freud gives us an interesting alternative lens with which to view this part of the novel. I'm not sure I totally agree with him but it's worthy of debate. I was so traumatised by little Marcel's desperate desire to spend a few moments alone with his mother that I got lost for a while there, reading purely to see how that ended. Avoiding spoilers I can only say that I didn't see it being resolved so completely. I was so surprised by his father but felt the explanation of/reason for his change of heart was complete and understandable. Freud would have had a field day lol.

Vandana
>>67426774

This is fascinating. I had no idea the Japanese had a caste system that was so rigid. I have to look this up. Thanks

hardcoreliterature
>>67561889

I definitely don't agree with everything Freud says, but, as you say, Sharon, he stimulates some debate from us. As Emerson says, these writers are great for the sentiment they stimulate rather than the ideas they contain. I'm more in tune with Viktor Frankl or Carl Jung. Though my own infancy didn't look like Marcel's, I can't help but identify with his neuroticism :)