Sentimental Education, Pt. 2

Sentence Summary: Frederic, with his uncle's large inheritance in hand, returns to Paris where he once again spends time with the Arnoux's, becoming closer to the Madame during the couples marital struggles, begins pursuing another mistress, whom he finally seduces at the end of this section, spends his money frivolously, and dismisses his love for Madame Arnoux after he fails to make her his lover.
Paragraph Summary: Once back in Paris, Frederic discovers that the Arnoux's have moved after he tracks down and speaks with Regimbart. He visits them at their new house, and after seeing Madame Arnoux, he is suprised at his lack of emotion. He states that he will not think of her anymore, but spontaneously decides to call on her instead of visiting the Dambreuses. She is ill, and Frederic attends a party with Arnoux where he meets Rosanette, a loose woman who Frederic trys to make his mistress. Frederic buys himself a house, over-spending in the process. He calls on Madame Dambreuses and later Rosanette, establishing himself as a welcome guest in both houses. He then visits Madame Arnoux and discusses her husband's financial problems with her, gaining her trust in the process. Frederic then begins going with Arnoux to Rosanette's house on a regular basis. He learns that Rosanette is growing tired of having Arnoux as her lover, and he trys to maker her his mistress, but fails. The Arnoux's begin having marital troubles, and Frederic finds himself in the middle of their affairs. He urges both sides to seperate, but to no avail. Frederic lends money to Arnoux, despite having promised it to Deslauriers. Their friendship ends. Later, Frederic decides to neglect visiting Dambreuses for a job in favor of visiting Madame Arnoux. He finally tells her how he feels, but she rejects him, and Frederic decides to go after Rosanette in revenge. He takes her to the races, but is embarassed when Cisy is the one who takes her home. The two men meet for dinner the next day, and Frederic becomes enraged after Cisy makes a negative comment about Madame Arnoux, throwing a plate at Cisy. Frederic refuses to apologize and demands a duel. At the duel, Cisy faints and Arnoux arrives to break up the duel. Frederic then recieves a letter from his mother urging him to return home and marry Louise. In Paris, Deslauriers visits Madame Arnoux, declares that he loves her, and reveals that Frederic is soon to marry. After he leaves, Madame Arnoux realizes she loves Frederic. In Nogent, Frederic hesitantly agrees to marry Louise, but decides to go back to Paris and think first. He visits Rosanette, who seems interested in him, and talks to Madame Arnoux, who is upset at Frederic's proposed marriage. At Arnoux's factory, Frederic sees Madame Arnoux, tells her he still loves her, and begins seeing her again. Frederic becomes uneasy that they have not become lovers yet, so he rents an apartment with the plan of taking her there. However, she is forced to stay with her son that night, and decides to stop seeing Frederic. Frederic dismisses his love for her, and instead takes Rosanette to the apartment.
Close Reading, Pg. 181: "After that there was a profound silence; and everything in the apartment seemed more motionless than before."
This sentence calls to attention the subtle subjectivity of the narrator. This sentence is an example of free indirect discourse. It is obvious from the description of the silence as being "profound", and from the assertion that "the apartment seemed more motionless than before" that this sentence contains a level of subjectivity which seperates it from indirect discourse. In order to experience the profound nature of this silence or to percieve the relative stasis of the apartment, one must be present in this specific apartment. However, the subjectivity extends beyond this meer presence. In order to fully feel what this sentence states, one must have been engaged in the uncomfortable exchange preceding this statment. This narrows the subjectivity down to two perspectives: Frederic's and Madame Arnoux's. Looking at this sentence, there is nothing which would convince me that either perspective should be favored over the other. Both experienced the uncomfortable argument, and therefore both would be expected to experience a jarring effect after its sudden conclusion. Because of the lack of a distinction between whose perspective is being expressed, I read this sentence as expressing the shared perspective of everyone in the room: in this case, just Frederic and Madame Arnoux. Reading the sentence in this way establishes a connection between Frederic and Madame Arnoux. These two characters, after sharing an emotionally jarring experience, are left together in a mutually felt "profound silence". This shared experience sets the table for their emotional conversation, and the furthering of their personal connection. This connection between the two characters is hinted at throught this use of free indirect discourse.