The Lover- the not-so forbidden fruit

Forbidden fruit = The ancient phrase refers to something really enticing or unbearably desirable because it’s prohibited or not allowed. We often use the expression to describe something that’s beyond tempting or attractive but just isn’t attainable or forbidden for some reason (per grammatist). 


 The short novel, “The Lover” by Marguerite Duras, is about an unnamed 15-year-old girl and the social restrictions, and forbidden love between two lovers. The novel tells the tale of a young girl navigating a secret affair with a wealthy Chinese man in the 1930s while living in French Indochina. The main character of "The Lover" is a fifteen-year-old girl whose identity is kept a secret. Although her name stays secret, I read some articles based on the book on the web, and some readers theorize that the book is based on the author- Duras’ experiences as a teen. After doing some research it appears it could be true as that was a common narrative, she wrote the book when she was 70, 55 years after she met Léo, the Chinese man of her story, his legal name was Huỳnh Thủy Lê. 

Anyway, I thought the story was alright and had a couple of very graphic scenes (I’m not sure if that's the proper word for books or if that's just for movies). The first time the young girl and the Chinese man meet, the rich Chinese businessman is dressed in a European-style suit and smokes an English cigarette as he gets out of his car. Right off the bat, I got creepy vibes from her soon-to-be lover when he said  “Everyone says you were beautiful when you were young, but I want to tell you I think you’re more beautiful now than then” (p.3). I find it very strange and off-putting anytime a grown man tries to entangle or flirt with a minor (as all should). The fact that the man was rich and interested in her made it really telling that she would reciprocate the feelings. Race also plays a role in the book as the man is Chinese and the girl acknowledges it. Keeping in mind this story is set in the racist times of 1929, it appears to not be a worry to her after he tells her about his lavish Paris lifestyle, her family also discriminates against him for his race it almost seems like his lifestyle background made up for the race difference in the young girls mind, as she is white and it was not common to have mixed-race relationships. It was funny to see the family’s views on the man subdued once the material gifts and expensive dinners came in. It goes to show how people change their views and beliefs when money is involved.

Question: Was there ever a time in your life where you changed you views or went against your beliefs for a certain type of reward? if so how did you feel after?

Comments

  1. Tesi13 March 2024 at 09:17

    Alex, it’s great to see that the book prompted you to do research online. Very good use of quotes to make your point. I would argue that the amyl’s views are only temporarily subdued but your point remains: they let go of the stigma they feel to benefit in a financial way.

    Thanks for your comment!
    - Tesi

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  2. Jon Beasley-Murray13 March 2024 at 16:47

    "Léo, the Chinese man of her story, his legal name was Huỳnh Thủy Lê."

    There is a house in Sa Dec that is open to visitors and advertised as "the lover's house." This is the house of Huỳnh Thủy Lê. But my understanding is that if this is the original "lover," then he is Vietnamese, no Chinese. Alternatively, it's possible that there is another man who was the "lover." (And again, things are complicated by the fact that Duras rewrote the same story in at least three different versions.)

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