Strait Is the Gate (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Andre Gide
- First Published: 1909
- Type of Work: Psychological realism
- Type of Plot: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: The late nineteenth century
- Setting: The French province of Normandy
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
- Subjects: France or French people, Love or romance, Sex or sexuality, Nineteenth century, Religion, Spiritual life or spirituality, Saints or sainthood
- Locales: Normandy, France
Characters Discussed
Jerome Palissier (zhay-ROHM pah-lees-SYAY), the narrator, a scholar. A sensitive and romantic but passive child (and then young man), he is obsessed with his love for his first cousin Alissa. This love issues from a fascination with virtue and self-abnegation, and from a desire to protect Alissa from life. He is, however, continually frustrated by Alissa’s delaying tactics and refusals and by his own inability to overcome his passivity and act. Like Alissa, he fears the physical side of love. After Alissa’s death, he remains faithful to her memory.
...[The entire page is 652 words long]
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