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re: Gigi: accents?

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:54 am EST 01/20/15
In reply to: re: Gigi: accents? - LegitOnce 12:12 am EST 01/20/15

"Gigi is set at the turn of the 20th century, which, when you think of it, is exactly right. Mamita, Aunt Alicia and Honoré are firmly in a 19th century sensibility, Gigi represents the greater frankness of the 20th, and Gaston is firmly in between."

Very astute. Thank you.

But I would point out that when someone today hears or reads the word "prostitute," what comes to mind is something quite a bit different than the French tradition of the courtesan. Those women were kept my rich men, but I believe they were with only one man at a time. One could argue that, even today, some women (and some men!) who marry, divorce, and remarry multiple times are doing the same thing.


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re: Gigi: accents?

Posted by: enoch10 03:54 pm EST 01/20/15
In reply to: re: Gigi: accents? - Michael_Portantiere 12:54 am EST 01/20/15

i don't think "frankness" has anything to do with it. is she franker that her elders? sure, but what matters is what she wants and what she chooses to negotiate for. those women were every bit as able - arguably better if you limit your discussion to the characters in the story, to negotiate as gigi is. gigi just negotiates for more.


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re: Gigi: accents?

Posted by: LegitOnce 09:14 pm EST 01/20/15
In reply to: re: Gigi: accents? - enoch10 03:54 pm EST 01/20/15

By "frank" I mean that she tells the whole truth without being coy or evasive or "polite." For her to say "And when it’s over and done with, Gaston Lachaille goes off with another lady and I have only to go into another gentleman’s bed” sounds shocking but in fact it is nothing but the plain truth, unfiltered through any sense of romanticism or glamour about the courtesan's life.

And I disagree that Gigi "negotiates," at least in the conscious sense. She says frankly how she feels and what she thinks will be her reaction to becoming a courtesan, but then adds that even though she finds the prospect revolting, she will undergo it because she loves Gaston. That's it, period: no manipulation, just honesty and openness.

And the magical thing that happens is that this honestly opens the heart of Gaston: he sees her generosity and he is inspired to rise to her level of integrity. All the conniving and bargaining and contracts mean nothing in the end; what matters is that Gigi stays true to herself, and by example reforms Gaston.


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re: Gigi: accents?

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 03:10 pm EST 01/21/15
In reply to: re: Gigi: accents? - LegitOnce 09:14 pm EST 01/20/15

"And the magical thing that happens is that this honestly opens the heart of Gaston: he sees her generosity and he is inspired to rise to her level of integrity. All the conniving and bargaining and contracts mean nothing in the end; what matters is that Gigi stays true to herself, and by example reforms Gaston."

That's a wonderful interpretation. Mine is slightly different, but not really contradictory:

I think Gaston pretty much loves Gigi from the beginning of the story, but he doesn't consciously think of her in a romantic way, partly because of her age. Then, when he realizes he wants her romantically, he immediately goes to the idea that she will be his "kept woman," because this is the arrangement Gaston is most familiar with, and also because Gigi herself is in training to be a courtesan. So it takes Gigi stating the facts so frankly to realize that marrying her is what he wants to do.


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