Alain Robbe-Grillet and Nathalie Sarraute: in the Labyrinths of Metaphors

Abstract

The article deals with aesthetic and stylistic particularities of the works by A. Robbe-Grillet and N. Sarraute, two famous writers and theorists of the “Nouveau Roman”. This literary movement continues to provoke debates about its interpretation and definitive assessment among foreign and national scientists, indicating the timeliness of the work. The research is based on their criticism and fiction published in the late 1950s – early 1960s. Analysing the literary context and the aesthetic views of the writers allows us to explain causes of their disagreements, to discover similarities and differences between their creative methods. Interpreting the works in the light of the image of labyrinth gives the opportunity to outline the main features of the poetics of Robbe-Grillet and Sarraute from a new angle. The use of metaphor is one of the characteristics that unites the literary practice of these authors. The concept of labyrinth has a number of philosophical and cultural senses, and its consideration is fruitful in order to study the individuality of the “nouveaux romanciers” literary world. The meaning of the image of labyrinth in the texts of “Dans le labyrinthe” and “Le Planétarium” is treated with comparative and hermeneutic methods, definitive and contextual analysis. The labyrinth defines the logic of creating the whole novel of Robbe-Grillet; it is involved in the description of interior and the image-bearing structure of Sarraute’s work. In addition, the metaphor is the basis of the stylistic manner of both authors, in spite of its different functioning in the considered works. As opposed to rudimentary and stereotypical story and characters, the metaphor in their texts serves to represent psychic activities of any person. Interpreting subconscious processes becomes the central content of the French writers’ works. The “nouveaux romanciers” assign to a reader a significant role in expounding their texts, that triggers self-knowledge, as well as philosophical reflections. The study may be of interest for experts in philology, science of culture and philosophy. Keywords: “Nouveau Roman”, metaphor, subconscious, image, interpretation, story, character