Sunday, January 31, 2010

Nice to meet you Mr. Duroy: Chapters 1-4

After the Bel Ami Book Club embarked on reading Chapters 1-4, we met up Chatzy style, to discuss our findings. Meeting Attendees: Kiva, Krystle, Carola, Griselle, Lili

First take on George Duroy
He’s a very insecure man – embarrassed of his lack of fortune, and will do pretty much anything to get ahead in life. Duroy somewhat knows he has a way with the ladies but hasn’t quite figured out how to use this to benefit himself.

“'There’s a good-looking fellow; if he would like to have me for ten louis I wouldn’t say No.'

Forestier turned and tapped Duroy on the knee, with a smile. 'That’s meant for you; you’re a success, my dear fellow. I congratulate you.'"

Duroy has definitely been around (he robbed and killed during his military time). However, it seems Duroy is just winging it, just learning as he goes. He doesn’t plan ahead very much – clearly living just one day at a time. When we first meet his character, he doesn’t have any major career plans. He’s barely getting by on a clerk’s salary. Then he runs into an old pal, Forestier, and a career in journalism becomes a possibility.

Ironically Naïve
Duroy has no problem finding comfort with prostitutes but is taken aback to find out Clotilde is married and Mrs. Forestier proposes he call on her sometime. Duroy is even more shocked when he finds out Mrs. Forestier was the former mistress of Count de Vaudrec and that he visits her seemingly often. Duroy must have had a fantastical ideal of how high society lives. He’s quickly learning how these people really live.

Keeping Up Appearances
High society living in this era was so much about keeping up an image and playing out formalities. In actuality, it’s all just a big show. Couples are married but are often sleeping with someone else. And the majority of the town knows it; it’s just not openly discussed – only whispered about.

So many marriages during this time were set up almost as business deals – done out of the necessity to secure your position in society. Did true love even exist? True love was most likely looked at like a fantasy – something read about but never actually witnessed.

Does Duroy Get Ahead of Himself?
After Mrs. Forestier pretty much writes his first article for him and it appears in print, Duroy embarks on a celebratory binge. He purchases numerous copies of the Vie Francaise, sends himself truffles, marches into the Northern Railway office and quits his job quite theatrically.

"'I said that I don’t give a damn about it. I have only called today to tender my resignation. I am engaged on the staff of the Vie Francaise at five hundred francs a month, and extra pay for all I write. Indeed, I made my debut this morning.'”

A bit over the top Mr. Duroy! And he exaggerated his salary by more than double!

Duroy gets put back in his place quickly by Forestier when he fails to turn the follow-up article in on time and tries to call upon Mrs. Forestier for help once again. Chapter 4 finishes with Duroy almost the same as we found him at the beginning of the book, scraping by financially. However, Duroy has gotten a taste of high society life and it only makes him thirst for it more. It’s a puzzle he wants to solve and he has no plans on giving up anytime soon.

Random Rant
Sex!
So far, all sex scenes have been "fade to black." What's the deal Maupassant? I think he and Stephenie Meyer are in bed together. However, Bel Ami was written more than a century before the Twilight saga so I may let this slide. I'm still holding out for some sassy scenes in chapters to come in Bel Ami!! *crosses fingers*

Facial Hair Factor
Several times George Duroy's mustache is brought up in the book. It's supposed to curl up and add to his sex appeal. Yes, it's understood the story takes place in the late 19th century in Paris. However, does Rob really have to sport this look?? My hope: The film starts out with Rob/George/Rorge with a mustache and beard and then BAM! a makeover montage scene where he shaves and sexes himself up. Well, that's what happens in my fanfiction version of Bel Ami.

5 comments:

  1. First of all: "Well, that's what happens in my fanfiction version of Bel Ami." <--- THAT is full of win!!
    Ok, sorry I couldn't make it, I was at work!
    Sex scenes: wait, there were sex scenes? When I got to where Georges met the h00r the second time I was like "what? when did they do it already??!" Luckily the film and script filled us in in what really happened.
    First take on Georges:
    Holy 360, or at least 270, lol. It seemed in the beginning at least he accepted his terms, like he knew he couldn't fare better so he did what he could to get by. After the article though, man, did I want to kick some arse. I kept thinking "if you put all your ideas down then at least you could try and make them flow!" (I'm a major slacker when it comes to writing too...), but no, he went and showed off. I was sooo very happy when Forestier put him on his place!
    His character better improve... soon!
    Things I did like about Georges: he notices little details... like the earring. That made him seem very sweet...

    Question regarding the Marriages & Affairs:
    Did they have birth control way back when?? I mean, they're bumping uglies quite often, and yet they have few children... how is this happening?

    Think that's it for now, what chapters are we reading next?

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  2. BTW: TeamRob = Cyn_TR... that's what the TR stands for...

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  3. LOL - Did they have birth control? I don't know when condoms were invented. *goes to search on google* Okay, condoms were definitely around in the 1800s which surprises me!

    http://www.undercovercondoms.com/condom-history.asp

    Good for them! :) And good for the prostitutes - they would have hundreds of kids. haha.

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  4. hey, i just read the post and skimmed the chatzy discussion. :)

    I don't think people were pretty much allowed to write explicit scenes in the 19th century which would explain why Maupassant didn't write any, just implied them. Meyer would just have to explain for herself because we are more...shall I say...liberated these days.

    I also hope that there would be a montage of Rob shaving the mustache and beard off because it just seems wrong for him to have a curly mustache. Though I know that he did sport one in Little Ashes, I honestly don't want a repeat performance of that.

    Sorry I can't make it again to the next meeting. That's Friday noon for me, so I have classes. :(

    xo,
    Aurora

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  5. Hi. I'm sorry I can't make it tomorrow, I have classes when you're having your meeting. And I just bought my copy of Bel Ami a few hours ago, so I only started reading Chapter 5 a few hours ago.

    I don't really have anything to say on it, but I promise I'll be able to catch up by next meeting. :)

    xo,
    Aurora

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