“[Human beings] are responsible for creating their lives according to their own values...” Here summarised by Ursula Tidd, this idea suggests that we as humans are responsible for our own happiness by ‘creating [our] lives’ – in other words, through our choices. If we accept this to be true, as one is likely to when examining Simone de Beauvoir’s novel "Les Belles Images" (Barcelone : Gallimard, 1966), then it would seem that Laurence’s unhappiness is indeed due to her passivity. However, is it correct to imply that if one wants to be happy, one can be, simply by choosing it?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the character of Laurence
2. Laurence's perception of happiness and materialism
3. The influence of family and social expectations
4. The role of relationships and narrative voice
5. Conclusion on personal choice and happiness
Research Objectives and Themes
The essay explores the extent to which the character of Laurence in Simone de Beauvoir's "Les Belles Images" is responsible for her own unhappiness, analyzing whether her state is a result of a failure to exercise personal choice or a product of societal and familial pressures.
- The intersection of existentialist responsibility and personal happiness.
- The critique of materialism and consumer culture in mid-20th-century society.
- The impact of gendered upbringing and social conditioning on female identity.
- The dichotomy between the "social persona" and the authentic self within the narrative.
- The limitations of romantic relationships in achieving self-actualization.
Excerpt from the Book
‘Laurence is not happy because she does not choose to be happy.’ In what ways, and to what extent, do you agree with this assessment of the character of Laurence?
“[Human beings] are responsible for creating their lives according to their own values...” Here summarised by Ursula Tidd, this idea suggests that we as humans are responsible for our own happiness by ‘creating [our] lives’ – in other words, through our choices. If we accept this to be true, as one is likely to when examining Simone de Beauvoir’s novel Les Belles Images (Barcelone : Gallimard, 1966), then it would seem that Laurence’s unhappiness is indeed due to her passivity. However, is it correct to imply that if one wants to be happy, one can be, simply by choosing it?
Early in the narrative one can see that Laurence believes an element of luck is involved where happiness is concerned: “Ils ont de la chance de pouvoir se passionner ainsi” (LBI, 11). She does not seem to share her relatives’ contentment – because she cannot or does not want to? The use of ‘pouvoir’ illustrates that she believes she is not able to feel enthusiasm, though the somewhat emphatic tone leads one to think that she desires to feel it. On the other hand, Tidd would argue that “...we try to pretend that we are not free and that we are part of the inert given situation.” Laurence does exactly this and, through pretending that she has no control, loses her choice. It is possible that, were she to except her transcendence, Laurence could be happy. In other words, by rejecting that she is a product of her situation and by accepting freedom and choosing that which would bring her happiness. Tidd’s statement could illustrate that this is possible for her character, as Laurence has not allowed herself the passive happiness of those around her; therefore knowledge of true happiness may be the real obstacle.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to the character of Laurence: This chapter introduces the central existentialist dilemma regarding whether Laurence’s unhappiness stems from a refusal to exercise personal freedom or from external constraints.
2. Laurence's perception of happiness and materialism: This section examines how Laurence identifies the emptiness of material goods despite her professional role in creating advertising imagery that sells false happiness.
3. The influence of family and social expectations: The analysis focuses on how Laurence’s upbringing by her mother and the societal training of women hinder her ability to define her own existence.
4. The role of relationships and narrative voice: This chapter discusses how Laurence’s shifting internal voice reflects her struggle between her social persona and her true feelings in romantic relationships.
5. Conclusion on personal choice and happiness: The final section concludes that while Laurence gains agency by the end of the novel, it is exercised through self-sacrifice rather than the pursuit of her own happiness.
Keywords
Simone de Beauvoir, Les Belles Images, Existentialism, Happiness, Personal Choice, Materialism, Gender Roles, Narrative Voice, Social Persona, Transcendence, Agency, Identity, Mid-20th-century Literature, Autonomy, Passivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this essay?
The essay investigates the existentialist perspective of personal responsibility in Simone de Beauvoir's novel, specifically asking whether the protagonist Laurence chooses her unhappiness or is trapped by her circumstances.
What are the central themes discussed?
The key themes include the conflict between individual freedom and social conditioning, the emptiness of consumerist culture, the performance of gender, and the search for authentic emotional experience.
What is the core research question?
The core question is to what extent one can agree with the assessment that Laurence remains unhappy simply because she does not choose to be happy.
Which methodology is applied?
The essay employs a literary analysis approach, drawing upon existentialist theory and secondary academic sources to interpret the psychological state and narrative choices of the character.
What is the significance of the main body?
The main body deconstructs Laurence’s interactions with her mother, her husband, and her lover, alongside her professional life, to show how these facets of her life prevent her from achieving authentic happiness.
How would you characterize the keywords?
The keywords highlight the intersection of philosophical inquiry, specifically existentialism, and literary analysis concerning female identity and societal pressures in the 1960s.
How does the narrative voice contribute to Laurence's character development?
The shift between first and third person reflects the moments when Laurence momentarily escapes her "social persona" to experience real, lived emotion versus when she conforms to societal expectations.
What role does the dancing Greek girl play in the narrative?
The girl serves as an epiphany for Laurence, representing a pure, unconditioned joy that contrasts with Laurence's own life, ultimately prompting her to shift her focus toward ensuring a different future for her own daughters.
- Quote paper
- Laura Smith (Author), 2011, "Laurence is not happy, because she does not choose to be happy." The character of Laurence in Simone de Beauvoir's "Les Belles Images", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/295719
