What Past Works Illuminate

October 16, 2023

A husband who suspects his wife of infidelity mutters, "I'll kill them both; the law is on my side." This is a scene from a novel set in France in the first half of the 19th century. The feelings of jealousy and anger surrounding infidelity may not have changed. However, it seems that laws, norms, and common sense have changed significantly over the past 200 years. It was a time when the word « voiture, » which now refers to a car, meant a horse-drawn carriage. While it seems connected to the present, it is not something we can readily understand. Perhaps this is the kind of distance that lies between us and the 19th century.

The works of Stendhal (1783–1842), the author I have been studying, are filled with exciting, novel-like scenes of romance and adventure, but a closer look at the details reveals passages that are quite puzzling. What I found particularly difficult was that words indicating morality, such as "virtue," "honor," and "magnanimity," are often used to describe the characters' psychology, but I could not grasp their true meaning. By focusing on these moral ideals, I examine the changes in social conditions and values during the period from the Ancien Régime, through the French Revolution of 1789, and into the 19th century. This approach may provide clues for reconsidering the norms and common sense of the society we live in today.

Looking back, what I appreciate about majoring in French language and literature is that it has allowed me to encounter things I never initially imagined. Indeed, through my research, my interests have expanded one after another to include the various works Stendhal was familiar with, such as Italian painting and opera, the literature of neighboring countries like Dante and Shakespeare, and the political thought of Hobbes and Rousseau. It seems that encountering one work opens a door to countless other works of different genres that lie behind it. I am reminded of this expansion every time I read a story, visit a museum, or see a stage performance. I hope to share the joy of appreciating these works with many people.

*Affiliations and titles are current as of the time of the interview.