Moderato Cantabile, P. 2

The following passages I chose come from chapters 3, 4, and 5. 

“It’s difficult for a woman to find an excuse to go into a café, but I told myself that I could surely think of something, like wanting a glass of wine, being thirsty…” (79). I thought this line was significant because it demonstrates Anne’s self-consciousness. In other words, she is very aware of the behavior that society deems appropriate for women, and especially women of her status. She knows that it is improper for her to go into this café and drink wine, especially since she gets looks of disapproval there. What she says here is also important because it is the second time she goes to the café. She goes to the café under the pretext of learning more about the mysterious murder. However, the reason she starts frequenting this place really seems to be that she is trying to recover a part of herself that she is not allowed to express in her society. The fact that she is making excuses to go to the café like being thirsty or wanting to find out about a murder shows how insecure she is with confronting her own feelings. These feelings are obviously powerful because they frighten her to such an extent that she trembles. And drinking wine is what helps her get into touch with her own emotions. This line also shows how Anne is worried about keeping up a certain appearance for society to see. She has to concoct some reasonable purpose for her being in that café, or it is otherwise unacceptable that she goes there. She cares about what other people think, and unlike her son, does not challenge the societal values that are imposed on her.  

“You go to the railings, then you go away and walk around the house, then you come back again to the railings. The child is sleeping upstairs. You have never screamed. Never” (90). From the previous chapter, we learned that Chauvin knows where Anne lives, and has been observing her from afar. It seems that by saying what he says (above), he understands Anne’s repressed condition in her marriage and in her society. She is incomplete, and this is emphasized in this quote by the fact that she never screams. As we discussed in class, screaming is vital to expressing anguish or frustration. Anne is likely frustrated by her condition. She seems to live a mundane life deprived of profound meaning. She repeats the same actions daily and without passion. It seems like Chauvin is more aware of Anne’s problems than she is. And by saying this, he is trying to lead her to speak more about herself and understand her own discontentment. It almost seems that in their time together, he is Anne's therapist. He often urges her to speak whatever is on her mind (even when she doesn't know what to say) so he can help her uncover and recognize her issues. 

“They don’t ask to come into this world… and then we force them to take piano lessons. What can you expect?” (94). With this bit, we return to the familiar scene of the piano lesson. Only this lesson is different than the previous one. In this one, instead of just calling the boy stubborn, the teacher and Anne try to explain why he is. I think that is what makes this quote important to think about. Anne is justifying her son’s rebellion because she identifies with what it is like to be stuck in a predefined role in society. After we are born, it seems like parents (and others) have mapped out our lives for us to some extent. We don't ask to be born into these roles, so why should we abide by them? Anne is emphasizing the lack of freedom that we have, and pointing out it is natural for us to want to challenge stifling authority and expectations. So here, she is explaining to the teacher that her son acts this way in an attempt to regain a sense of control over his own life. Of course, this links to how Anne yearns for freedom. In chapter one, we sense how Anne admires her son for rebelling against his teacher. This is because he did something that she never dares do herself; that is, cast off societal expectations. Anne is aware that she leads a repressed life and she wants to change that. Therefore, she experiences a lot of emotional conflict, and constantly tries to ignore her true desires. It seems like her son represents the person she wants to be.