The last section of the novel Suite Francaise provides some closure to a few themes touched on in the novel, but doesn’t resolve the war. As seen earlier, a difference in attitude had lead to a great difference in acceptance and overall mood. The final chapters however attempt to explain how this accepting attitude may be reached, and problems solved. In chapter twenty the Germans and French both express that they have faults. In a conversation with a friendly German soldier, a Frenchman said, “We Frenchmen have very short memories; this is both our strength and our weakness!”(340). The German soldier responds, “we Germans too have a weakness that is also our greatest quality: our tactlessness”(340). By openly speaking of their differences a working, peaceful relationship can grow, as it does in the novel. By stating their strengths and weaknesses the rivals are getting to know each other, and understand that their enemy doesn’t only have weaknesses. This part reminded me of our class discussion when we talked about how to make peace and coexistence. Our group responded nurturing was an answer, but also that openness and willingness to accept another culture is key. By easily accepting their rival’s culture, they were able to live together peacefully and without hostility.
The book ends in a peaceful time, where the people of the village have accepted and sometimes enjoyed the company of the soldiers, and now the soldiers are leaving their village for good. The strange thing is the peace they are feeling so early on in the war, as the soldiers left in 1941. In fact, the last few lines of the book are a peaceful conversation you would expect two people to be having over coffee instead of a recently occupied village in the midst of war. A man says, “I’ve just heard on the radio that they’re at war with Russia,” a seemingly normal statement during wartime (357). This is followed however by his statement, “It’ll be dry again tomorrow,” a normal expression when one has nothing better to talk about (357). The odd peace at the conclusion of the story shows not only that the people have come to peace with the soldiers, but with the situation, and are no longer the anxious animals as earlier portrayed. A fine piece of literature and for those who will be reading it for outside reading, it has many discussable points, both in the writing style and theme (and maybe even more).
Nemirovsky, Irene. “Suite Francaise”. New York: Random House, 2006.
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4 comments:
It sounds like a very happy ending. I don't know how many books end with a dialogue between a Frenchmen and a German about their respective weaknesses. Sounds interesting. Good Job!
This sounds like an interesting conclusion. Even though the war was still going on, there was peace. Its almost as if they got used to it. It kind of reminds me of In the Time of the Butterflies, when the women in jail get used to being there.
It sounds like this book had a great conclusion, which must be nice because although the book was about war like so many other things we read for school, the ending wasn't depressing. Good connections to class discussions as well.
Reading your post got me very excited for next Quarter, I'll be reading reading it then. The mention of Frenchmen having very short memories made me chuckle, in French class last year, our teacher said that the French people will take any excuse to riot, but can't remember why they're rioting. I do believe that this is both an advantage and a weakness. nice work!
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