Ourika by Claire de Duras - Essay Example

"Ourika" by Claire de Duras: Her Suffering from Love-sickness for Charles, Not by Societal Limitations Because Of Her Skin Color Introduction A novel by Claire de Duras, Ourika dates back to 1823, the times when the fight for equality was just rooted in the civil society. This reveals why it was first published anonymously. The story evokes thinking as to the standards of the 19th century regarding racial differences and the role of a woman in the society. Based on the bare bones of historical facts, the story fueled interest as it was the first literary attempt by a white-skinned writer to place herself in another world- the circumstances of post-slavery, the discrimination and the violence in the society. Ourika, the main hero of the novel, is said to go through a lot of suffering due to the color of her skin. Raised in France, according to the standards implemented for the upbringing of white Parisian girls, Ourika faces stress after her social outing. One of the most famous lines in the writing says: "Ourika ... has been placed into Society without its consent; Society will avenge this indiscretion." (Attinson, 2011). It might seem that the main theme covered in the novel is that of interracial differences. However, there is more to this piece of writing that it might seem at first: the novel addresses such crucial themes as interracial love and psychological adjustment. It gives us the first seeds of identity politics through the psychological flashbacks aroused by the love-sickness of the main hero. The story centers around differences, but the retrospective view tells the reader that this understanding is superficial. The main conflict centers on love- the sorrow, the sickness, the secret passion of love and inequality. The review of “Ourika” and the love-sickness of the main hero In the novel “Ourika” by Claire de Duras, Ourika is confronted with the judgments of a French woman, who was known in the noble circles as The Marquise. Raised along with noble girls, it leaves no surprise that Ourika feels a part of French society, and is deeply convinced up to the age of 15 that she is no different from the white people surrounding her. This point can be supported by a lot of facts she sees around- she's talented, educated, active, loved, and the cruel world has nothing to do with her innocence. However, this couldn’t last long. As soon as she overhears a conversation centering around her persona, Ourika is devastated. The most touching and terrible words she heard were- "What kind of man would marry a negress?" (Duras, 2006) This is probably the part when the sorrow Ourika faces in personal life is rooted. The words seem to produce a coding in her conscious- she is condemned not to be loved. She is doomed to be left on her own. This is a strong psychological barrier that is, in fact, impossible to overcome. Ourika realizes that she, indeed, is different, but she cannon perceive this difference as an asset. It is already rooted as a flaw, a shortcoming, and it makes her feel embarrassed and startled of the future. This psychological effect is later seen in her relationship to Charles, her incapacity of struggling against the moral standards of the society she lives in. After the point of overhearing the conversation the words of The Marquise who says she sympathizes with Ourika and wants to help her cannot influence Ourika. This sympathy is based on her limited understanding about Ourika and French society, her interpretation of racial differences, and therefore is not true sympathy, based on feelings of love, attachment and experience. Ourika, in fact, is framed into the standards of the society. However, even the Marquise notes that she is too bright to be condemned for such a future: "Since she's too remarkable to be anything less than she is, perhaps one day she will rise above her fate." (Duras, 2006). This provokes thinking, as it is possible to notice the seeds of seeking equality for people- the time to change, to stand out and to rise above the fate, has, in fact, been rooted. The psychology of Ourika is influenced. As powerful as it is, the thought of being a lack is provoked in her, and the girl spends most of the time thinking around the phrases she heard. It is difficult to object that this state resembles a certain type of monomania, a catchy thought which is born and raised until it makes you act in accordance. Ourika, in fact, has another conversation with The Marquise, which reveals once again the true limits of her understandings and sympathies. It is difficult to argue that The Marquise's attempts at showing off her sympathy are nothing but mental contrivances. She is unaware of the fact that Ourika knows her real attitude and she says: "And it makes me very sad indeed to see what a low state you've got yourself into. Don't you think a girl of your intelligence ought to find a brighter side to things? The Marquise is inclined to believe that everything depends on Ourika solely, but she also contradicts herself. She creates an impression in her past conversation with Madame de B that Ourika is destined and has no way of coping against the contrary beliefs of the society. The fact that leads to Ourikas mischief in love is strengthened by the fact that in the end, she feels that The Marquise wasn’t involved with her situation. This can be seen in the following expression by the Marquise: "I'm going now. And make no mistake, with far less sympathy for you than when I entered this room." (Duras, 2006). This is the turning point of the story: Ourika faces lack of sympathy from the surrounding and isn’t inclined to be attached to people as well. As a result, Ourika’s psychological state worsens, because she never receives true sympathy. Being attached to Madame de B and Charles, Ourika’s only real friend and Companion is Charles, so, only his acceptance and love can make her overcome the barriers placed in front of her. In spite of the fact that Charles considers Ourika to be his best friend, his heart is attached to another woman, and he perceives Ourika as a friend only. Thhis said, it is impossible not to note that Ourika was still taking the way of healing when she turned into religion and accepted God. The low self-esteem and the embarrassment from her origins were cleared partially due to the words she heard from the priest: "For Him there is neither black nor white. All hearts are equal in His eyes. And yours promises to be worthy." (Duras, 2006). There is a possibility that Ourika thought that if God was love, he would understand the true need she had- sympathy, and would grant it to her, giving her true sympathy. This true sympathy is the attachment to Charles. He was the proving point of her, and in reality, all the suffering from her inequality with the society could be washed away by the love and addiction of Charles. The earlier note of normal men being unable to marry a Negro has to either be proved, or be cleared away. However, Ourika’s wish is far from turning into reality, causing her even more suffering and love-sickness. The deep conflict that Ourika faces in love can be seen in the following extract from the work: "I want her to trust me completely," he told me, "and give her all my trust. I shall not hide anything from her; she will know my every thought; she will know all the secret movements of my heart; I want the trust between her and me to be like ours, Ourika." Like ours! This word hurt me terribly. It reminded me that Charles did not know the only secret in my life, and I lost any desire to tell him.” (Duras, 2006) This extracts reveals the dying hope in the heart of the girl, who wasn’t able to protect her own way yet. The fact that she was losing the wish to tell Charles about her affection is a proof of the fact that she was about to agree with the barriers the society created for her. (Fowles, 2010) The augmentation of worry and psychological issues are caused with other instances of communication with Charles either. Ourika has to hear another heart-breaking conversation: “Ourika, I shall never be able to tell you what I feel for her! Sometimes, I feel as if my whole soul were about to fuse into hers. When she looks at me, I stop breathing. When she blushes, I would lie at her feet to adore her. To think that I shall be the protector of this angel, that she entrusts me with her life, her destiny! Ah, how proud I am of mine! Ah, how happy I shall make her! I shall be for her the father, the mother that she has lost; but I shall also be her husband, her lover! She will give me her first love; her whole heart will pour out unto mine. We shall partake of the same life; during the course of our long life, I do not want her to be able to say she was unhappy for a single hour. What a delight, Ourika, to think that she will be the mother of my children, that they will draw their life at Anais's bosom! Ah, they will be sweet and beautiful like her. Ah, Lord, what have I done to deserve such happiness!" Alas! At that moment I was asking heaven the opposite question!” (Duras, 2006) .Ourika indicates she was undergoing a stage of suffering- loving a man and not being loved back is hard, but it is even harder to hear him speak about the girl he loved in her presence. This love, without doubt, was the key factor which caused Ourika to lose faith and stay bare in the lack of sympathy from others. Here’s when Ourika takes the crucial decision of changing her life and dedicating it to being a nun : she decides that she can only reach relief and be at peace in this way. Ourika’s hope is shaken, her love, as sorrowful as it is, makes her direct all of her affection towards God and serving the other people. Conclusion Having analyzed all these facts, it becomes easy that the main issue Ourika faced in her life wasn’t her treatment from the society, but her love-sickness, so deeply associated with hope. Failing every opportunity of being with the only object of her sympathy, Ourika faces the deep conflict and suffering, causing her to stop searching for sympathy and give away all of hers, instead. This proves that the s ocietal factor isn’t of crucial importance, and could have been overcome given the possibility of Ourika having happiness in her personal matters. Sources: Attinson, Arthur, Ourika, http://voices.yahoo.com/claire-du-duras-ourika-9343.html, 2011 Chilcoat, Michelle. "Confinement, the Family Institution, and the Case of Claire de Duras’ Ourika". Vol. 38, No. 3. (Fall 1998), 6–16. Dimauro, Damon. "Ourika, or Galatea Reverts to Stone". Nineteenth-Century French Studies. (Spr–Sum 2000). 187. Duras, Claire, “Ourika”, Bleu Autour; edition, 2006 Fowles, John Ourika reviews, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/547484.Ourika, 2010 Read More