Enfants Terribles

by Jean Cocteau

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Summary

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In an ancient part of Paris, siblings Paul and Elisabeth navigate life with their paralyzed mother, retreating into a world of their own making. Here, imagination reigns supreme, and they conduct secretive rituals that bind them closer, setting them apart from the adult realm. A transformative snowfall one night leads Paul on a quest for Dargelos, the school idol he admires, but a fateful encounter leaves Paul injured and alters their insular existence forever.

The Room and the Game

The siblings are inseparable, spending their days in "the Room," a chaotic haven littered with belongings that reflect their inner lives. It is both their sanctuary and stage for "the Game," a form of intentional daydreaming that transports them to a fantasy world. While Paul only leaves for school, Elisabeth steps out only to care for their mother or purchase magazines. After dismissing Gérard, a friend who had brought Paul home after his injury, Elisabeth tends to Paul, whose despair lifts only when he hears of Dargelos's expulsion from school, rendering the institution meaningless to him.

A World Disrupted

The Room hosts a collection of curious items, signifying treasures of their subconscious, including a photograph of Dargelos dressed as Athalie. Tragedy strikes when their mother dies suddenly, leaving a haunting image of her in their memory. Mariette, the mother's nurse, stays on, content in her role of caring for the siblings without disturbing their peculiar dynamic.

Elisabeth's Transformation

Gérard, now a familiar presence in the Room, senses the palpable tension between Paul and Elisabeth, manifesting in conflict and eventual reconciliations. Once Paul recuperates, Elisabeth accepts an invitation from Gérard’s uncle for a seaside retreat, where she scrutinizes her brother, dismayed by his frailty. Resolute, she plans to reshape him to her liking, steering him through small thefts to strengthen his resolve and recreate their Paris treasure hoard.

Power Shifts

Back in Paris, Elisabeth realizes that Paul has surpassed her, tilting the balance of their relationship. As Paul explores Montmartre, observing nightlife and eventually reconnecting with Gérard, Elisabeth uses Gérard’s presence to provoke Paul. Her declaration to enter the wider world herself irritates Paul, and when she finds work as a mannequin, he accuses her of compromising herself.

New Alliances

At the dressmaker's, Elisabeth meets Agatha, a young orphan with a tragic past. She feels an unfamiliar warmth toward Agatha, who becomes integral to the Room upon meeting Paul. The startling similarity between Dargelos and Agatha fascinates Paul, much like Dargelos had. Agatha fits into their surreal realm, yet is acutely aware of its dreamlike quality.

The Game Evolves

As Paul and Elisabeth mature, the Game no longer absorbs them as fully as before, unsettling Elisabeth. When she encounters Michael, an American friend of Gérard, she channels her imaginative life into him. Excluded from this new connection, Paul’s fears are alleviated upon learning Michael wishes to marry Elisabeth, not Agatha. Elisabeth marries Michael, but tragedy strikes when he dies in a car accident shortly after their marriage.

Tragedy Unfolds

Inheriting Michael’s wealth and home, the four relocate, finding themselves lonely in separate spaces. They gravitate back to a Room Paul sets up in the dining hall, where his love for Agatha becomes apparent. Afraid to confess their feelings directly to each other, they confide in Elisabeth, who manipulates their emotions to maintain her grip on Paul. She deceives Paul about Agatha’s affections and convinces Gérard that Agatha loves him, orchestrating a marriage between the two.

The Poisoned Gift

After Agatha’s marriage to Gérard, a chance encounter with Dargelos prompts the latter to send Paul a gift from his poison collection, ominously welcomed...

(This entire section contains 754 words.)

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by Paul and Elisabeth. Snow blankets Paris once more, and Elisabeth dreams of Paul’s death. Agatha's arrival with foreboding news propels them to the Room, where they find Paul amidst a lethal atmosphere. Barely conscious, Paul pieces together Elisabeth’s scheming. Her confession of jealousy and manipulation results in a desperate bid for attention, leading her to grab a revolver, a final attempt to reclaim Paul’s devotion.

The Final Act

Elisabeth’s violent act disrupts their world, and as the Room collapses, Paul envisions snowball fights beyond the windows, signaling their impending doom. Finally, Elisabeth, believing Paul dead, ends her own life, shattering the fragile sanctuary they had constructed. Their story concludes as a tale of outcasts, unaware of the fleeting nature of their existence, fighting until the end for a world that was never theirs to keep.

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