Sylvie

Commentary on “Sylvie” by Nerval

Commentary on “Sylvie” by Nerval

Introduction

The nature of this story, composed in the first person and consisting largely of the narrator's thoughts, makes it perfect as a vehicle for extensive descriptions. Through his choice of material in the descriptive passages, Gérard de Nerval introduces a series of value judgments on the people and places described. At first the presence of description seems ironic. In the first scene at the theater, after commenting on the dress and jewels of members of the audience, the narrator asserts his need of interest in them. The ensuing description of Aurélie, although, already contains elements calculated to enhance the reader's perception of her by exact associations.

Discussion and Analysis

My first impression of the mild, dignified, and yet genial vintage man were solely favourable: and the genuine approval that displayed itself on his daughter's face, as she contacted me with the phrases "this is really an unlooked-for pleasure!", was very soothing for anything continues of individual vanity the flops and disappointments of numerous long years, and much buffeting with a uneven world, had left in me.  Yet I documented, and was pleased to note, clues of a far deeper feeling than meagre amicable consider, in her gathering with Arthur though this was, as I accumulated, an nearly every day occurrence--and the dialogue between them, in which the Earl and I were only occasional sharers, had an alleviate and a spontaneity seldom contacted with except between very vintage friends: and, as I knew that they had not renowned each other for a longer time span than the summer which was now rounding into after summer, I sensed certain that 'Love,' and Love solely, could interpret the phenomenon.  "How befitting it would be," Lady Muriel laughingly commented, a propos of my having asserted on keeping her ...