Colette, much like literary giants such as Francois Montaigne, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Marcel Proust, and Andre Gide, masterfully weaves her own life into her writing. Her narratives often reflect influences from her mother, Sido, who embodied a sort of personal Garden of Eden for Colette. This motif of untainted innocence is particularly evident in her character Gigi, whose story concludes before the complexities and disillusionments of marriage can take hold.

Colette's Troubled Marital Experiences

Colette's first marriage to Henry Gauthier-Villars, known as Willy, was fraught with difficulty. At seventeen, Colette was drawn to the older Willy, despite her mother's disapproval. Her attraction was strong, albeit tinged with masochism, as she fantasized about being the willing companion of this older, dissolute man. Over time, her distrust of erotic desire grew, perceiving it as a force leading to sorrow and subjugation. Willy's wit and erudition were overshadowed by his cruelty and infidelity, causing Colette much distress throughout their thirteen-year marriage. During this tumultuous period, Colette began her literary career, initially writing thinly veiled accounts of her schoolgirl years. Willy saw their potential and pushed her to produce a series of novels, starting with Claudine a l’ecole (1900; Claudine at School, 1956), often resorting to locking her in a room to ensure she wrote. Despite the oppressive environment, Colette's passion for writing flourished, but the experience reinforced her belief in the often imprisoning dynamics between men and women.

The Evolution of Claudine and Gigi

Claudine at School, penned in diary form, oscillates between scenes of youthful provocation and innocence. Set over an academic year at a girls’ school, it explores the sexual awakening of adolescents. While many characters engage in various romantic intrigues, Claudine, the protagonist, remains an observer. Her character embodies a blend of curiosity and purity, precociousness coupled with a yearning for independence and love—traits that prefigure Gigi’s essential sweetness and integrity.

In Gigi, Colette revisits the themes introduced in her earlier works like Claudine. The novel also reflects the fin de siècle society that Willy exposed her to, illustrating Colette's internal struggle between independence and submission. This personal dichotomy is mirrored in the lives of her fictional creations. Gigi, written in 1942 during a particularly challenging time in Colette’s life, served as a creative refuge. Her third husband, Maurice Goudeket, had been taken to a concentration camp by the Germans, and she herself was suffering from severe arthritis.

A Masterpiece of Escapism

Given these harrowing circumstances, Colette's creation of Gigi can be seen as an act of escapism, a world of romantic whimsy crafted to transcend her grim reality. Despite the seemingly light-hearted tone of the book, its underlying satiric humor and hopeful optimism shine through, showcasing Colette's adeptness in navigating the complexities of emotion and narrative. Her ability to balance personal struggle with literary creation remains both surprising and delightful, offering readers a confectionery blend of depth and levity.