Sarrasine (Masterplots II: World Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Honoré Balzac
- First Published: 1831
- Type of Work: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: The 1820’s
- Setting: Paris
- Principal Characters: The Narrator, A young Dancer, Ernest-Jean Sarrasine, Zambinella, Count de Lanty, Countess de Lanty, Marianina de Lanty, Filippo de Lanty
- Genres: Long fiction, Bourgeois fiction
- Subjects: France or French people, Love or romance, Nineteenth century, Paris, Obsession, Truthfulness and falsehood, Dancing or dancers, Sculpting or sculptors, Happiness
- Locales: Paris, France
The Novel
As the action of this short but intricately plotted novella begins, the narrator is attending an evening reception given by Count and Countess de Lanty. The narrator has a very pessimistic if not fatalistic view of life. For example, he sees many trees partially covered by snow in front of the Lantys’ house. This tranquil winter scene, however, reminds him of nothing less than a “dance of the dead.” He then describes the refined elegance of this party as a “dance of the living.” The narrator affirms that such opposing realities as life and death,...
[The entire page is 1859 words long]
