Marcel Proust Concept Of Time

In his work Swann’s Way, Marcel Proust analyzed the concept of time, more specifically the perception of time held by any individual. Proust, having great interest in the philosophical work of Bergotte, set out to explore the perception of time in this particular work. Time and how it is perceived, appears fluid and flows, rather than being linear or a mere list of events and feelings that defined an individual’s life. The perception of others in relation to how memories weigh on a person is considered in this work as well. Proust also explores the role of the subconscious in this work, more so in relation to escapism through memories; these memories most often reminiscent of a younger self in a seemingly simpler atmosphere. The entire narrative …show more content…
The reading may appear trivial at times due to “unnecessary” tangents and recollections. But this stream of consciousness is Proust’s philosophy of time in motion, being explained through example. The novel’s narrative is not linear, nor is the narrative of our own lives. We do not decide our own memories and what triggers them (unless intensive therapy is considered). Proust illustrates this by complicating reality, the narrative between two characters could easily dissolve into a web of thoughts and inner musings (Marcus). It is not fair to Proust or the beautifully crafted Swann’s Way to consider the narrative to be one that rambles for no true reason. These musings and tangents are how Proust expresses these philosophical concepts. He could have created a work with a traditional narrative while taking the time to describe these concepts in a sterile manner. But by exploring these ideas through example, one is able to better perceive what it is Proust is attempting to express. It is important to note the nature of the people that the narrator encounters. Odette becomes cold and callous in the eyes of the narrator, however I would …show more content…
Some subjects were reminiscent of seemingly simpler times, from an early era of one’s own timeline. How memories may affect one’s emotions or decisions in life (as well as how profound one may want to consider them), is a common theme in this piece. An excerpt that best reflects this concept is that of the madeleine. In a traditional narrative, a dessert would very rarely have such an impact on a character nor would there be such a large portion dedicated to the consumption without any other human interaction. The sensation of eating the madeleine restores him from a sad present. He escapes from his current state of dissatisfaction and find solace, utter joy even, in a dessert. However, the happiness the first bite provided faded as the consumption continued. He is not completely oblivious to these events but he does not have an answer for when he continues to ponder the reason why he had experienced such joy from something so miniscule. He does attempt, and partly succeeds, in conjuring up an explanation for these feelings. He even contributes these feelings to a memory and tries to dig deeper in order to provide an explanation. Proust, in this scene, explores how memory can affect us and also how vague the reasons are for certain emotions and triggers. Proust credits the elusive