Vallès - L'enfant - chapitre 9 - Saint-Etienne - vidéo11 (Livre Audio)

Summary

This excerpt from Jules Vallès' 'L'Enfant' presents a vivid depiction of a young boy's journey to Saint-Étienne with his mother, filled with intricate observations about their fellow travelers and the emotions they experience along the way. As they arrive in the city, tension builds as they wait for the boy's father in the freezing cold. The boy's reflections blend humor and melancholy, with awkward family interactions and moments of introspection. The passage captures the complexities of family dynamics, societal expectations, and the boy's struggle to find his place amidst it all.

Takeaways

• 🚍 The family is moving to Saint-Étienne, with the father having been appointed as a teacher.
• 🎒 The narrator and their mother stay behind to pack while the father leaves ahead of them.
• 🚐 During the journey, they travel in a cold carriage with unusual companions: a salesman, a large woman, and an old man.
• 😳 The large woman becomes the center of attention with her revealing dress and flirtatious behavior, shocking the narrator’s mother.
• 🏫 Upon arrival in Saint-Étienne, the father is not there to greet them, causing frustration and tension.
• ❄️ The narrator describes the cold, snowy streets, adding to the discomfort of waiting for their father.
• 🤕 After the father arrives, there's a comedic moment where he tries to greet the family but fumbles awkwardly.
• 🚌 They take a silent ride to their new home, with tension between the parents growing, and the narrator feeling trapped in the situation.
• 💥 The parents’ strained relationship is highlighted as they argue and silently stew during the uncomfortable arrival at their new home.
• 🤕 A minor accident (falling on an orange peel) breaks the family’s silence, which leads to reconciliation as they care for the narrator.

Q & A

What is the setting at the beginning of the script?

The setting begins with the narrator and his mother leaving their home to join his father in Saint-Étienne. They are traveling by diligence in December, during cold weather.

Who are the companions during the journey to Saint-Étienne?

The narrator, his mother, a traveling salesman, a large woman with an ample chest, and an old man share the diligence.

What interaction occurs between the traveling salesman and the large woman?

The traveling salesman and the large woman engage in flirtatious behavior, laughing and joking together. At one point, the salesman offers her a bouquet, which she places in her bodice.

How does the narrator's mother react to the behavior of the large woman and the salesman?

The narrator's mother is scandalized by their behavior and tries to distance herself from them, reflecting her more conservative and proper nature.

What difficulties does the family face upon arriving in Saint-Étienne?

Upon arrival, the narrator's father is not there to greet them, leaving them waiting in the cold, snowy streets. The mother is visibly frustrated, asking numerous questions of the employees at the station.

How is the relationship between the narrator and his parents depicted during the journey?

The relationship between the narrator and his parents is strained and awkward. His father misses several attempts to embrace both the narrator and his mother, and there is a general sense of disconnection.

What humorous accident occurs during the family's ride in the fiacre?

While in the fiacre, the narrator accidentally drops a parasol, leading to several comical head-bumping incidents between him and his father, which results in the narrator getting a bump on his head.

What is the atmosphere in the house they arrive at in Saint-Étienne?

The atmosphere in the house is gloomy and eerie, with creaky wooden stairs, a dimly lit room, and the mother standing rigid and silent, resembling a ghost.

How does the family dynamic change after the narrator's fall?

The narrator’s fall on a piece of orange peel breaks the tense silence, causing the parents to focus on helping him. This accident inadvertently leads to a reconciliation between the mother and father.

What does the narrator overhear from his father after arriving in Saint-Étienne?

The narrator overhears his father conspiring with a colleague about a lie they had told to explain his delayed arrival at the station, revealing a sense of dishonesty.