The Immoralist
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| The Immoralist | |
 The Immoralist Penguin Classics cover |
|
| Author | André Gide |
|---|---|
| Original title | L'Immoraliste |
| Translator | Dorothy Bussey (1930), |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Mercure de France (French, 1902); Alfred A. Knopf (English, 1930) |
| Publication date | 1902 |
| Published in English |
1930 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 144 pages |
| ISBN | NA |
| OCLC | 5227844 |
The Immoralist is a novel by André Gide, published in France in 1902 as L'immoraliste.
[edit] Synopsis
Michel's latent homosexuality is one theme throughout this complex novel of self-discovery. A number of incidents betray his secret pederastic yearnings. From his first encounter with the Arab boy, Bachir, in Tunisia his infatuation with the beauty of Moktir, to his almost-recognised obsession with Ali at the end, Michel's reactions can be explained by his love for young boys.
He feels that his wife Marceline is in the way when he is with his boys, yet she helps procure them for him. His violent hostility toward religion is not only a rejection of his moral upbringing, but also an unconscious expression of hostility toward Marceline. Both stand in the way of his hidden longings. Michel prefers the immoral Alcide to the responsible Charles for the same reason. The Arab boys, the coachman in Taormina whom he kisses, the beggars whose company he seeks out in Naples and Syracuse recognise his longings better than he does.
