The School for Wives - André Gide

Summary

L'École des femmes (The School for Wives) by André Gide is presented as the diary of Évelyne, a young woman who recounts her courtship and marriage to Robert. Initially, Évelyne idealizes Robert, seeing him as a virtuous, strong, and noble man who embodies all the qualities she desires in a husband. Her early entries reflect her profound love and admiration. However, as their marriage progresses, Évelyne gradually begins to see through Robert's carefully constructed façade. She discovers his self-centeredness, his manipulation, his hypocrisies, and his moral failings. The novel chronicles her slow, painful journey from blind adoration to bitter disillusionment, culminating in a complete re-evaluation of her husband and her own identity. It is a psychological study of self-deception, the complexities of human relationships, and the destructive power of unexamined ideals.

Book Sections

Section

The narrative opens with Évelyne's diary entries, written when she is a young woman deeply in love and engaged to Robert. She meticulously records her feelings, her hopes, and her boundless admiration for him. Robert is portrayed through her eyes as the epitome of integrity, kindness, and strength—a man of unwavering moral principles who guides and inspires her. She sees their impending marriage as a union of two souls dedicated to virtue and truth, with Robert as her benevolent mentor. Her initial entries are filled with an almost naive idealism, detailing the small joys of their courtship and her anticipation of a perfect life together. She praises his piety, his devotion to good works, and his seemingly selfless nature.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Évelyne	Idealistic, naive, deeply in love, seeking guidance and perfection in a partner, introspective (through diary)	To find true love and a virtuous partner, to build a perfect life based on shared ideals, to be guided by a morally superior man
Robert	Presented as virtuous, pious, strong, noble, guiding, selfless (initially through Évelyne's perception)	To maintain his image as a virtuous and admirable man, to control Évelyne and their relationship, to achieve social respectability

Section

As their marriage settles, Évelyne's diary entries begin to show subtle shifts. Small incidents and observations start to chip away at her perfect image of Robert. She notices his occasional rigidity, his tendency to preach rather than discuss, and a certain self-satisfaction that belies his purported humility. Évelyne, still desperate to believe in her husband, initially rationalizes these observations, attributing them to her own misunderstandings or imperfections. However, the occurrences become more frequent and harder to ignore. She observes his subtle manipulations of others, his judgmental attitude towards those who don't conform to his standards, and a growing possessiveness over her. The first seeds of doubt are sown, causing her internal conflict and a profound sense of unease. She begins to feel a chilling distance from the man she thought she knew so intimately.

Section

The final section of Évelyne's diary reveals her complete and devastating disillusionment. She recounts specific instances where Robert's true character is laid bare: his financial impropriety, his cold indifference to others' suffering, his intellectual dishonesty, and his sheer hypocrisy. She realizes that his entire persona is a carefully constructed façade designed to exert control and gain admiration, masking a deeply selfish and calculating individual. Évelyne feels betrayed not only by Robert but also by her own naive idealism, which prevented her from seeing the truth earlier. Her entries become increasingly bitter and despairing, as she grapples with the wreckage of her idealized marriage and the profound emptiness it has left her with. She recognizes that she has been living a lie, and her once-adoring love has turned into a mixture of contempt and profound regret. The book concludes with Évelyne fully aware of Robert's true nature, her dream of a perfect union shattered, leaving her to face a future devoid of the illusions she once cherished.

Literary Genre

Psychological novel, Epistolary novel (partially, as it is presented as a diary), Novel of manners, Existentialist novel (to some extent, in its exploration of authenticity).

Author Details

André Gide (1869-1951) was a prominent French author and Nobel Prize laureate in Literature (1947). His work often explored themes of individualism, moral conflict, duplicity, religious hypocrisy, and the search for personal authenticity. Gide's writing style is characterized by its psychological depth, intellectual rigor, and often autobiographical elements. He challenged conventional morality and societal norms, influencing many subsequent writers and thinkers. His other notable works include Les Nourritures terrestres (The Fruits of the Earth), La Porte étroite (Strait Is the Gate), and Les Faux-monnayeurs (The Counterfeiters).

Morale

The morale of L'École des femmes lies in the dangers of blind idealism and the importance of critical self-awareness. It highlights how an unexamined admiration for another person can lead to profound self-deception and ultimately, bitter disillusionment. The novel suggests that true understanding of oneself and others requires stripping away illusions, confronting uncomfortable truths, and accepting the complexities and imperfections of human nature. It serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of hypocrisy, both in others and in one's own perceptions, advocating for authenticity over superficial appearances.

Curiosities

• Part of a Trilogy: L'École des femmes is the first part of a triptych of novels that explore the same marriage from different perspectives. It was followed by Robert (1930), which presents Robert's diary defending himself, and Geneviève ou La Confidence inachevée (Genevieve, or The Unfinished Confidence, 1936), which offers the perspective of their daughter. While each can be read independently, together they form a comprehensive and multi-faceted psychological study.
• Epistolary Form: The novel's structure as a diary lends it an intimate and subjective quality, allowing readers to experience Évelyne's evolving thoughts and emotions directly. This form also highlights the discrepancy between internal reality and external appearances.
• Autobiographical Undertones: Gide's own complex personal life, particularly his marriage to his cousin Madeleine Rondeaux (who refused physical intimacy), and his struggles with societal expectations and personal desires, are often seen as influencing the themes of marriage, disillusionment, and hidden selves explored in the novel.
• Critique of Bourgeois Morality: The book can be interpreted as a subtle critique of the prevailing bourgeois values and moral hypocrisy of Gide's era, where outward respectability often masked internal corruption and self-interest.