The Closed Garden: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Closed Garden: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the complex relationships and tragic events surrounding the Mesurat family in a small French town. Central to the narrative is Adrienne Mesurat, a highly impressionable sixteen-year-old, whose infatuation with Dr. Denis Maurecourt leads to a series of devastating consequences. After inadvertently causing her father's death, Adrienne finds herself isolated and driven to madness, which highlights her vulnerability in a stifling environment.
Her older sister, Germaine, also plays a critical role; she is an invalid who leaves for a hospital under strained circumstances, suspecting Adrienne of romantic entanglements. Their father, M. Antoine Mesurat, is depicted as a retired teacher oblivious to his daughters' unhappiness, ultimately becoming a tragic victim of a fatal accident. Dr. Maurecourt, whose brief encounter with Adrienne sparks her obsession, is portrayed as a sympathetic figure burdened by his own impending death. Lastly, Mme Legras emerges as a manipulative neighbor, intruding into the family's life under the guise of care, only to betray Adrienne's trust. Together, these characters weave a tale of love, loss, and the consequences of isolation, inviting readers to reflect on themes of vulnerability and societal expectations.
The Closed Garden: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Julien Green
First published: Adrienne Mesurat, 1927 (English translation, 1928)
Genre: Novel
Locale: France
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: 1908
Adrienne Mesurat (ah-DRYEHN meh-zew-RAH), a highly impressionable French girl of sixteen. She falls in love with Dr. Maurecourt when he tips his hat to her. Her peculiar actions, including stealing out of the house to watch Maurecourt's house, arouse suspicions in her sister and even the neighbors. After her sister has left home for a hospital, Adrienne accidentally kills her father by knocking him down a flight of stairs. Alone in the world, robbed by Mme. Legras, Adrienne goes mad.
Germaine Mesurat (zhehr-MEHN), Adrienne's older sister, an invalid. She suspects Adrienne of having a lover. When Germaine's father refuses to acknowledge her illness, she leaves for a hospital after taking some of her sister's dower money.
M. Antoine Mesurat (ahn-TWAHN), a retired teacher living with his two daughters in the placid little French town of La Tour l'Eveque, leading a quiet life. He never thinks that his two daughters may be unhappy sharing his tranquil existence. Thinking the girls superior to any proposals they have, he repulses their suitors. He is accidentally killed when Adrienne knocks him down a flight of stairs.
Dr. Denis Maurecourt (deh-NEE moh-reh-KOOR), a physician. He tips his hat to Adrienne, by that action unknowingly causing her to fall in love with him. When she tells him of her infatuation, he informs her that he is ill and has only a short time to live.
Mme Legras (leh-GRAH), a temporary neighbor to the Mesurats. She is a prying woman who tries to find out if Adrienne has a lover and if M. Mesurat's death was truly accidental. She assumes the role of protectress to Adrienne in order to pry into the girl's life. When she has a chance, she steals all of Adrienne's valuables and disappears.