The work of Robbe-Grillet considered in relation to planning in post-war France

Abstract

The thesis is that the New Novel as described by Robbe-Grillet in Pour Un Nouveau Roman, in its denial of the interest of the individual (as character, subject of a success or failure story, subject of a coherent sequence of events in time, or of a coherent assembly of psychological reactions), presents a vision of huinen. existence related to developments in post-war French society. Increasingly prosperous economic conditions and 'welfare state' measures remove the need for the individual to struggle to succeed financially, and adroit techniques of administration allow the individual a sense of participation, while skilfully controlling the extent of his contributions. The 'invited participation' in the Monnet and subsequent plans is analysed and interpreted along these lines. The thesis follows Goldmann in assuming that the author does not necessarily consciously intend a direct comment on society, but that the prevailing conditions affect his way of seeing, and the behaviour of those he sees. It departs from Goldmann in rejecting that there is a lengthy 'time-lag', i.e. that the post-war novel is to be explained by pre-war social conditioning. The chapters seek to show that many problems of interpretation of the novels can be explained or clarified by analysing them in relation to post war planning. They examine at the outset statements by Robbe-Grillet concerning his novels and his aim in writing them, followed by a survey of critical attitudes towards the New Novel. An analysis is then made of economic and social developments, especially those engendered by the various plans, including press comment. Further chapters deal with the manipulation of levels of reality and the development of Robbe-Grillet as an artist, the relationships between characters, time and construction in the novels, all of which are studied in the light of post-war French economic and social structures.

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