Sentimental Education, Pt. 3

Sentence Summary: With the political turmoil of France reaching new heights, Frederic fails on two occasions to run for election, discusses politics with members of high society, leaves Rosanette and Madame Dambreuse because of Madame Arnoux, reunites with Madame Arnoux, and reflects on his life.
Paragraph Summary: After spending his first night with Rosanette, Frederic hears fighting in the streets and goes to investigate. He sees people storming and destroying the former king's palace. He meets up with Hussonnet, and they spot Dussardier, who is fighting for the Republic. Frederic sees Rosanette and she pledges her support for the Republic. After meeting with Dambreuse, Frederic is conviced to run for election. He attempts to give a speech at a meeting, but Senecal turns the crowd against him, and he leaves. One day, Frederic sees Arnoux coming to Rosanette's and realizes that he is still one of Rosanette's lovers. Frederic fills in for Arnoux at his guard post, and realizes that Arnoux asked him to do this so he could be alone with Rosanette. Rosanette tells Frederic she doesn't love Arnoux, and they go on a vacation together. Frederic returns to Paris after hearing that Dussardier had been wounded. Frederic then attends a party at the Dambreuses where a question by Roque reveals that Rosanette is his mistress. Louise and Madame Arnoux talk about Frederic, and the Madame says Frederic can be deceptive. Louise goes to see Frederic that night, but learns he hasn't slept at home in a long time, and she becomes very sad. Later, Arnoux visits Frederic and asks him to come by again. He does, but only the Madame is there. They tell each other they still love each other, but Rosanette interupts them. Frederic is upset, and Rosanette reveals she is pregnant. Frederic starts to fall out of love with her, and begins trying to woo Madame Dambreuse. He eventually does, and begins living a doubel life. His affair with Madame Dambreuse becomes mostly about social status as he realizes he doesn't love her. Monsieur Dambreuse dies, and the Madame asks Frederic to marry her. He agrees. After the funeral, Madame Dambreuse can't find the will that would give her her husband's fortune. Rosanette gives birth, and Frederic has to lie to Madame Dambreuse about where he was.  Rosanette hints that she wants to marry Frederic, and this irritates him. Rosanette has unsettled debts, and eventually sues Arnoux for the money. After she wins the case, their baby dies. Pellerin paints a portrait for them, and informs Frederic that Arnoux is leaving paris. He needs money to help them, and gets it from Madame Dambreuse after lying to her. He can't save Arnoux, and one day he sees that their possessions are going to be sold. He blames Rosanette, they argue, and he leaves her. Then, when he is with Madame Dambreuse, she buys an item from the Arnoux's. Frederic is upset, and leaves her. He goes to Nogent, with the hope of marrying Louise, but sees that she is marrying Deslauries. He returns to Paris where he sees Dussardier killed by Senecal. After many years, Madame Arnoux visits Frederic, and they declare their love for each other, but they realize they can't be together. Frederic and Deslauries talk together about their lives and how they are essentially failures. They end by talking about a memory that they argee is the happiest of their lives.
Close Reading: Pg. 454 "Frederic, drunk with his own eloquence, began to believe what he was saying"
This sentence comes after Frederic tells Madame Arnoux how profoundly the thought of her used to fill him with passion. Although Frederic's speech is romanticized and exaggerated, it certaintly parallels feelings he expresses earlier in the novel. For this reason, I find it strange that this sentence hints at a level of insincertiy on Frederic's part. By saying that Frederic "began to believe what he was saying", the narrator is suggesting that prior to uttering these endearments, Frederic did not believe them to be true. It is only because he is "drunk with his own eloquence" that he begins to believe he is being sincere. This suggests that Frederic can convince himself that an insincere comment is sincere simply by speaking it in an eloquent fashion. This fact alters the way I read Frederic's character. If his feelings, specifically his feelings for Madame Arnoux, can be affected by his eloquence, how trustworthy are his declarations of love throughout the novel? What if Frederic convinced himself that he loved Madame Arnoux early in the novel simply by eloquently romanticizing about her? This skepticism can be applied to all of Frederic's declarations throughout the novel. How much of his speech during high society gatherings was actually insincere? How often was Frederic convinced of an idea because of his eloquence? This level on uncertainty regarding Frederic's sincerity forces the reader to be more skeptical of his claims, and to consider whether or not they are affected by his speech.