Summary of The Vagabond by Collette - Essay Example

?Introduction Human beings often face predicaments in their lives, predicaments that hinder them from making correct decisions in their lives. These issues are major dilemmas that sometimes make lives miserable, and deny the victims the freedom of making better choices. The vagabond by Collette is a novel that seeks to address social concerns that people in the contemporary society go through. Though Renee and Exley seem different on the surface, they have both been disappointed in love and have been entangled in a web of confusion on which direction of life to follow. Through the thematic concerns, technique, an uncomplicated theme, supernumerary characters and stylistic features, Collette has succeeded in bringing out the idea so well. Renee Nere Renee Nere who is the central character in the vagabond and recently divorced has given up her writing career to become a mime performer at a Parisian hall with her Brague, her mentor and student. Three years down the line, she has been touring and although she is sometimes lonely, she claims to be enjoying her single company and self-sufficiency. As psychologists would say, Renee could be suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. Divorced eight years ago due to her husband’s infidelity and brutality, Renee chooses to be independent of herself through her musical career for three years (Colette, 115). In the course of her career as a dancer and artist, she mingles with many of her colleague performers but her relationship with them does not turn out so well. She lives an alienated life apart from the room they share with her maid Blandine and her dog Fossett. One evening as she dresses in preparation for performance, she is approached by Maxime who vehemently pleas for engagement. However, Renee dismisses him and refers to him as an awkward intruder although cheerful and respectful he seems to be. In her heart, Renee has feelings for Maxime but she cannot disclose. With time, she meets him again after a private arrangement by her brother. Maxime truly admires and loves Renee. Slowly by slowly, they get attracted to one another with Hamond, her old acquaintance acting as an intermediary, and Renee consequently acknowledges that she has a secret admirer. Their friendship deepens but with no intimacy. Renee signs a three year contract which involves travelling a lot to perform, but she is torn between living with Maxime and travelling to Paris. After a thoughtful dilemma, Renee chooses to travel albeit regret. She leaves for Paris, undecided about her relationship with Maxime. Frederick Exley Frederick Exley, a known American writer, literary critic and poet, lives under struggle of self doubt, acute alcoholism, personal failures, and obsession with sports, two broken marriages and mental instability. Beginning his career as a teacher to a court clerk and progressing to a writer, Exley lives a miserable and unstable life all through. According to adams the critic, exley is concerned with’public confession of mental illness, alcoholism and the inability to handle success’. His first wife Fritz divorces him after being convinced by her father, an act that worsens Exley’s drinking habit. Determined Exley marries his second wife Nancy Glen, a marriage that is characterized by constant separations and reconciliations. After delivering him a daughter, Nancy subsequently divorces Exley. Exley’s love for football makes him not only a fanatic but almost an idolizer of famous footballer frank Gifford. He is so devoted to Gifford; he longs to be a participant rather than a mere fan, to achieve the fame he yearns through his drunken stupor. His behavior reflects a worshipping stance, and the only consolation to his failures. It is amazing how he shouts in front of a TV to praise Gifford, ‘Oh God, he did it! Gifford did it! He caught the goddam thing!’ (Exley, 41).He is deprived of self confidence and esteem, a deprivation that can be attributed to the problems he has faced in his desperate life. Similarities in character between Renee and Freddy Both characters have been disappointed in love, a thematic concern that the author seeks to bring out. In Renee’s predicament, we see her starring her image at the mirror for a long time, wondering when her state of solitude will come to an end. She listens to herself and longs for something or somebody who will rescue her solitary life she has molded for herself. Her greatest fear of how life would be if she changes her present lifestyle. She wonders whether a woman will ever achieve the independence she seeks (Colette, 113) .She is haunted by her first marriage with a reckless and cheating husband, a situation she fears would reoccur if she marries another man. That is why she tells herself on ‘lucid days’, ‘be careful! Keep alert! All who approach you are suspect’ (Collette 93). On the other hand, Fred Exley, after divorcing the first wife does not give up. He remarries a marriage that does not last but ends in another divorce. However, he chooses to recuperate his miserable life by indulging in alcoholism and football addiction. He says, ‘I had used alcohol for precisely what it was a depressant to check the mental exhilaration produced by extended sobriety.’ He idolizes a famous footballer and wishes to be associated with his fame. From their failed marriages, both Renee and Exley are seen to seek some company, something that will otherwise give them company to forget their problems. Renee becomes a dancer and artist while Exley chooses beer and football. Both Renee and Exley are stressed in life. Renee marries a promiscuous man, a man who is insensitive to her feelings and well being. After eight years, she can no longer persevere but seek divorce. Exley’s marriage that he hopes will work too suffers unending quarrels that lead to separation and subsequent reconciliation. Consequently, the marriage culminates into a divorce. Biblically, marriage is a union that is ordained by God and is meant to last, but these two marriages do not go any far. Broken marriages attract stress as we see in Renee and Exley. Renee is unable to arrive at a best decision with the new admirer. Exley on the other hand dies from stroke, a condition that is caused by stress. To make their miserable lives lively, they both turn into activities that keep them busy. Renee chooses to perform and travel widely while Exley is addicted to beer and football. Renee is a professional woman who clings to her independence and falls hopelessly for a man who takes advantage of her cool nature. We do not see any instances of Exley mistreating any of his wives, deducing that he is also a good husband and father. Their unwavering commitment to love and relationship is betrayed (Colette, 95). Conclusion The two cases are a representation of how life can be unfair, despite of upholding values that are deemed well by the society. They also depict how miserable life can be as a result of choices we make in life. Oblivious of our fate and future, we make decisions, only to be let down by those decisions. The past highly haunts our present and significantly affects the future. The two character’s predicaments confuse us about whether love and happiness can coexist. Love can be that bitter and happiness can not be bought. Work cited Colette, Gabrielle. The Vagabond. New York. Twayne Publishers. 1910 Frederick Exley. A Fan’s Notes. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.2010 Read More