Marcel Proust, the person and his family – Parental Vigilance and Marcel’s Self-Analysis 

Parental Vigilance and Marcel’s Self-Analysis 

Following the dramatic asthma attack in 1891, Marcel Proust’s parents became increasingly vigilant about his health. His concerned mother transformed into a protective hen, instructing her son to meticulously record his sleep patterns, bodily functions, appetite, and digestion. This intense monitoring and Marcel’s own desire to understand his ailments led him to develop a lifelong, quasi-obsessive habit of self-analysis, examining his thoughts and feelings in hopes of uncovering the root of his suffering and finding remedies. 

By the age of 14 or 15, this self-scrutiny had become so intense that Marcel sought guidance from his favorite teacher, Monsieur Darlu, hoping for support. Monsieur Darlu’s response remains unknown. It is likely that these years of self-analysis and monitoring felt like self-inflicted emotional torture for the hypersensitive adolescent. However, they also laid the fertile ground for the profound insights into the psyche and human interactions that would become the pillars of his masterpiece, the Recherche

Marcel’s father, a staunch advocate for hygiene in all its forms and applications, took a more practical approach. He believed that if his son could cultivate discipline, pursue a solid education leading to a respectable profession, and if his mother’s pampering was reduced, allowing their overly close bond to loosen, then the asthma would simply “grow out of him” – a pedagogical misconception that persisted as folk wisdom well into the 1960s. Unfortunately, this proved untrue. This raises an epistemological question: was the symbiotic mother-child relationship the cause of the asthma, or did the terrifying, life-threatening asthma create the intense bond? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? One could argue that it is only natural for a mother to fiercely protect a child who is so frequently ill. 

Marcel’s mother was simultaneously demanding and exacting in her expectations of him (tearing up his carelessly written letters) yet also indulgent when Marcel used his physical complaints to manipulate situations in his favor. 

Was Marcel Proust a spoiled child? Undoubtedly! Could he behave like a little tyrant to get his way? Absolutely! Did he exploit his secondary gain from illness throughout his life? Of course! Yet, he was so charming, tender, amiable, and grateful that everyone accepted his tyrannical quirks and whims, forgiving him time and again. This pattern would remain constant throughout his life. Amor vincit omnia et omnes. 

Despite the challenges he faced, Marcel Proust’s overall health remained relatively stable between the ages of 17 and 23, particularly compared to the severe asthma attacks that would plague him later in life. During this period, his romantic interests shifted from infatuations with girls to an exclusive focus on young men. 

However, Marcel’s insecurities manifested in clingy and demanding behavior, which often alienated rather than attracted his friends. It was his intelligence, charm, engaging conversations, and vast knowledge that saved him from complete social isolation.