A gender-stereotyped representation of Marie in Jean-Philippe Toussaint\u2019s tetralogy M. M. M. M. (2017)

Greta Brodahl

doi:10.1007/s11061-020-09652-8

Abstract

This article examines the portrait of Marie in Toussaint (M.M.M.M., ed. de Minuit, Paris, 2017) and asks how Marie is represented as a woman in the tetralogy. The study shows that although Marie is portrayed as a modern, independent woman, she is also presented with different gender-stereotyped characteristics. The theoretical and methodological approach to this topic will be based on Simone de Beauvoir’s The second sex (1949), in particular the chapter “Myths” that focuses on women and myths in a historical perspective. Another question the article raises is what may be the author’s intention by playing with stereotyped characteristics. I will argue that the author exposes a modern woman’s ambivalent situation in our patriarchal society. Furthermore, that he writes within a literary tradition that gives a stereotyped representation of women as part of the collective myths.

Highlights

In M.M.M.M., Marie is an important character next to the nameless first person narrator
The tetralogy consists of intertextual references, allusions, and metaliterary comments
The purpose of this article has been to study the portrait of Marie in the light of Beauvoir’s theories on the myths of women

Summary

Introduction

In M.M.M.M., Marie is an important character next to the nameless first person narrator. The narrator describes Marie as awkward during the whole scene related to JeanChristophe de G.’s heart attack He gives a stereotyped portrait of her as a woman, he gives a captivating description of her The first two examples illustrate its negative meaning (instability and caprice), and the last one its positive meaning (surprise and adventure) After they interrupted their first love-scene in Tokyo, the narrator discovers Marie in the hotel lobby: “Elle était immobile, allongée dans un des élégants canapés en cuir noir du hall, la tête et les cheveux tombant en arrière, un bras ballant au sol [...]” The description of her communication with the world is a reminiscence of certain characteristics related to the myths

Discussion

Conclusion