AdolpheAdolphe enjoys all the advantages of a noble birth and an intellectual ability, yet he is haunted by the meaninglessness of life. Thus, he merely seeks distraction in the pursuit of the beautiful, but older and married Ellenore. The young Adolphe, inexperienced in the language of love, falls for her unexpectedly and falters under the burden of an illicit love that is destructive to his public career. Unable to commit himself fully to Ellenore, and yet unwilling to face the pain he would cause by leaving her, Adolphe finds himself incapable of resolving an increasingly tragic situation. Written in a clear and thoughtful style, Adolphe (1816) reveals Constant's own experiences in love, while reflecting his anxieties for the possibility of any authentic commitment to someone other than ourselves, whether emotional or political, in a disenchanted world. |
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abandoned Adolphe Adolphe's affair affection agitation appeared asked astonishment Baron behaviour believe Benjamin Constant break career Cécile Cerenzia character Charlotte Charterhouse of Parma Chateaubriand Constant's conversation Corinne Count dare delay disenchanted distressed edition Elective Affinities Ellénore's death emotions episode everything eyes father feelings Felix Holt felt fictional Ellénore final France freedom French friends gaze George Eliot happiness harm heart ideas imagine impatience inspired Isabelle de Charrière J. W. VON GOETHE July Revolution kind L'Assommoir leave letter living longer Louis XVIII Madame de Staël manuscript married moral Napoleon's narrative nature never novel OXFORD WORLD'S CLASSICS pain Paris passion perhaps pity pleasure Poland political published readers receive relationship religion religious replied reproaches respect returned sacrifice seemed silent situation society soon soul speak spoke story suddenly suffering tears tell thought tion told unhappy vanity wanted weakness woman women words writing