Introduction
“A Season in the Life of Emmanuel,” one of Canada’s literary classics, is a horrifying portrayal of the savage poverty and misery that were a part of the countryside in the middle of the past century. Although conservative ideals predominate in this work of fiction, certain progressive concepts like the pursuit of pleasure by the individual and the freedom of the spirit provide a path throughout the Great Darkness. This analysis is about the moment Jean Le Maigre – the main character – is born. The discussion below will be dedicated to the exploration of the themes of seeing hope in the future when the present is harsh and pressing, as well as considering the hardships of reality as a bridge toward upcoming happiness.
Future as a Shelter of Hope
The first primary idea of the outlined part is perceiving hardships of the present as a bridge toward blurred and upcoming happiness. It might be assumed that the overall tone of the excerpt is dark and terrifying, even though the author uses an exact extent of humor at some points. For example, Jean Le Maigre says, “How much I had been desired! … I arrived just in time to please my parents” (Blais, p. 64). Given the fact that the family was put in too severe economic conditions to raise another child and the recent death of Pivoine, such a carefree and cheerful tone of Jean Le Maigre here serves as a contrast to stress the overall darkness of the present situation.
The mentioned contrast, however, highlights Jean Le Maigre’s train of thought, which can see positive aspects even in the mentioned circumstances. Particularly, he considers Pivoine’s death as a fortunate occasion for himself – “… fortunately, Pivoine had died the day before and was giving way to me, very kindly” (Blais, p. 64). The author utilizes irony here, ending the latter phrase with the words “very kindly. ” Such an approach seems to aim to convey the idea that whatever challenges are met in one’s way can be seen as significant, paving a path toward a brighter future.
At this point, the second primary idea was formulated as finding optimism for what lies ahead despite current difficulties and pressures, which is greatly correlated with the secondary idea above. By revealing the situation around the birth of Jean Le Maigre, the author stresses the significance of bringing a new life to this world, which has always been associated with new beginnings and hope. For example, Jean Le Maigre says, “[his] gaze was already shining with a dark and tormented fire” (Blais, p. 63). Such a metaphorical oxymoron (the fire cannot be dark and present in one’s eyes) emphasizes that the child is ready to face the challenges of life by opposing them with his poetical “flames of genius.”
Then, the theme of finding solace in upcoming events is also delivered more straightly. For instance, M. le Curé directly says, “Console yourself by thinking of the future” (Blais, p. 65). From the narratology perspective, outlining bright and joyful possibilities – which is done here – contributes to the ability to tolerate current issues more steadfastly. The image of the future seems to be the only option for the characters to escape the painful reality, taking into account the overall plot.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the novel’s section on the circumstances surrounding Jean Le Maigre’s birth recognized the concepts of looking to the future for hope when the present is harsh and viewing life’s trials as a means of achieving future happiness. Since the former forms the basis for the latter, these two themes are closely intertwined. When one has a clear picture of a better future—hope—it is easier to face life’s obstacles and have faith that things will change. This method can be used extensively in daily life when everything is in a “complete mess.”
Reference
Blais, M.-C. (1965). A season in the life of Emmanuel. McClelland & Stewart.