Nadja: I feel Bad for His Wife

 

Nadja was a book I wouldn't typically pick up outside of a classroom setting, and it definitely made for an interesting read. The story follows André Breton,the author, as he recounts his encounters with a mysterious woman named Nadja. The book is divided into three parts, with the first part being the most challenging to understand due to its lack of structure. Despite this, I appreciate Breton's poetic writing, even if I don't always fully understand it. In the first part, Breton shares his passing thoughts, mentioning other authors like Nietzsche and describing the places he walks by, even describing a play he enjoys (I think it was about a school girl that gets murdered?).

Now, onto my favorite part – the second section where the author finally meets Nadja. This part takes on a more diary-like format with specific dates and a structured storyline, which I found much more enjoyable. As the author gets to know Nadja, her mystique captures his attention. As a reader, it was challenging to fully grasp who she is, a sentiment that Breton himself expresses later in this section. She displays a range of emotions – sometimes agitated, nervous, or carefree – leaving me uncertain about her identity. Initially, I was supportive of the relationship between the author and Nadja, until the revelation that he was married! This revelation was surprising since the author barely mentions his wife (which is why I didn't know she existed). There's even a scene where he briefly leaves his wife and frantically runs across the street to meet Nadja. The act of adultery didn't cast our protagonist in the best light, but maybe it was a loveless marriage, open relationship?

Now, let's talk about a fascinating theme in the book – the concept of reality. Since the story is narrated from Breton's perspective, there's a constant uncertainty about how he may have shaped or twisted the story's reality. This ambiguity becomes more pronounced towards the end of the second part, when it is revealed that Nadja was admitted to a psychiatric ward. It appeared as though Nadja had lost touch with reality. Was this an actual occurrence? Did it really transpire? The lack of clarity and the perplexity surrounding these events made me question the authenticity of the narrative.

It seems that this uncertainty and confusion could be precisely what Breton intended with Nadja. Perhaps he aimed to encourage readers to let go of the need to rationalize and fully comprehend everything, urging us to embrace a more surrealistic approach that intertwines fantasy and reality.

My question this week is a bit of a silly question- not about any themes or what not. What is the nature of the relationship between Brenton and his wife? How do you think his wife viewed Nadja?