Combray: A battle against father time

This week’s reading, Marcel Proust’s Combray, was very challenging for me to get through. This book was very different compared to anything I'm used to reading. With the book's heavy details and symbolism, I had a very hard time trying to stay engaged and focused throughout my reading. I became confused following the timeline and location after reading a few paragraphs. I found myself having to re-read pages multiple times for me to semi-understand what was going on. I felt like I was only scanning the words and being left confused, more than I was reading and taking in the knowledge of the book. The book was really heavy. The author uses detailed sentences and vivid descriptions to manage the jumbled memories from dreams. Even though I had trouble reading Combray, there were some interesting moments in which I understood Marcel Proust's complex world. Though difficult to understand at the beginning, when I understood what Proust was writing it painted a very clear image in my mind of what he was describing. Even though I felt that I was just reading the words rather than really understanding them, I saw a pattern in the story that improved the plot.

This book taught me to be patient whilst reading such dense stories. Even though I feel I didn’t understand everything Proust wrote, when I stood back and took time to re-read certain pages, it became slightly more clear to me. I decided to watch a few videos on YouTube to get a better understanding of what I read and I found that a lot of help.

With its many elements and shifting timelines, Combray initially gave the feeling of being a literary maze, but after taking the time to sort through its complexities, I discovered a deeper message about everyone's struggle with time. The main message I took from the book was how the author paints a picture of how everyone has to deal with the inevitable father time, showing that the passing of time is a tough part of being human. Proust explores the psychological and emotional effects of time, portraying it as an internal conflict as well as an exterior power. The book's characters struggle with time, which shows up both internally in their own memories and dreams, as well as experiences and externally in the world around them.

Question: How, in your opinion, is time used in this book to convey a larger point?

Comments

  1. Tesi15 January 2024 at 20:33

    Alex, I’m sorry to hear that it was a bit confusing. The narrative voice definitely plays a lot with time and landscape. Re-reading is actually a good sign that you are engaging with the reading. Although it can make it feel like we aren’t being good enough to undersand it at once, it is a great strategy! I am also glad to hear that in the end you were able to engage with the descriptive language and that you understood patience in the midst of the maze.

    Thanks for your comment!
    Tesi

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