Indiana by George Sand
"Indiana" is a novel by George Sand, published in 1832, that explores themes of love, gender roles, and the constraints of marriage in 19th-century France. The story centers on Indiana, a woman trapped in a discontented marriage to the jealous and domineering Monsieur Delmare. Her only solace comes from her cousin, Sir Ralph Brown, who shares her unhappiness but maintains a platonic relationship with her despite Delmare's suspicions. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Raymon de Ramière, a young man seeking a romantic connection, becomes entangled in a complicated love triangle with Indiana and her maid, Noun. The novel examines the societal expectations of women and the pursuit of true love against a backdrop of emotional turmoil and tragedy. As Indiana grapples with her desires and the realities of her life, she ultimately seeks a path toward personal happiness, leading to introspective choices about love and freedom. Sand's work is recognized for its feminist undertones and challenges to traditional notions of female identity and agency.
On this Page
Indiana by George Sand
First published: 1832 (English translation, 1833)
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Sentimental
Time of plot: Early nineteenth century
Locale: France
Principal characters
Indiana , a young CreoleMonsieur Delmare , her husbandNoun , her foster sister and maidRodolphe Brown orSir Ralph , Indiana’s cousinRaymon de Ramière , her lover
The Story:
Indiana is married to pompous, quick-tempered Monsieur Delmare, a retired army officer no longer young. Loyal to her suspicious and jealous husband, Indiana lives a discontented, uneventful life. Her cousin, Sir Ralph Brown, himself unhappy and frustrated, is her only companion. Although Delmare keeps a watchful eye over the young couple, there is nothing improper in the relationship between them. As a matter of fact, Sir Ralph secures the good graces of Delmare, and he is accepted as one of the household. If not an intimate friend, he is at least a close companion. Indiana is as reserved in her behavior toward Sir Ralph as she is toward her husband, but to a close observer it is apparent that in a friendly, inarticulate manner, Sir Ralph is fond of Indiana.
The submerged tensions of the household erupt one night when someone is discovered scaling the garden wall and entering the grounds of the estate. Delmare rushes out and fires in the darkness at the intruder. When the wounded prowler is brought into the house, he reveals himself as Raymon de Ramière, a young man who, he maintains, wishes to see Delmare regarding his manufacturing enterprise. De Ramière further explains that his brother has a similar business in another part of the country, and that he will profit from Delmare’s information.
Delmare’s suspicions dissolve. He did not notice the behavior of Noun, Indiana’s friend and maid. Noun became extremely agitated at the entrance of de Ramière, a fact that nobody noticed in the excitement. She knows that de Ramière came to the estate not to see Delmare on business but to keep a rendezvous with her. Noun has been his mistress for some time. Once in the house, however, he is immediately attracted to Indiana, especially because he is already tiring of Noun.
De Ramière systematically begins his suit for Indiana’s affections, and to that end, he enlists the aid of both his mother and Indiana’s aunt. Before long, Indiana begins to reciprocate his attentions, and the affair becomes the subject of much discussion in Parisian salons. Delmare remains ignorant of the gossip. Despite de Ramière’s urgent avowals and protestations, however, Indiana refuses to yield herself to him because she prefers a pure and spiritual love. Upset by her refusals, de Ramière contracts a fever that keeps him confined to his bed for several days. Indiana is strongly affected as well and experiences several spells of swooning.
One night, impatient to achieve his desire, de Ramière impetuously enters the Delmare house. Indiana is away, but Noun is there awaiting the return of her mistress. The two meet in Indiana’s room, and Noun, as passionate as ever, entices the young man to surrender. When Indiana returns, Noun escapes, leaving de Ramière to face her mistress alone. Indiana, disturbed to find her suitor in her room, orders him to leave before his presence is discovered.
A short time later, Noun’s body is discovered floating in a nearby stream. Pregnant, she took her life because of de Ramière’s refusal to marry her or even continue their relationship. Indiana is brokenhearted at the death of her maid, and de Ramière is greatly perturbed. He is tired of his pursuit of Indiana and determines to forget her. One night, Indiana, having decided at last to become his mistress, goes to his rooms. Learning that he is not at home, she waits until he returns at dawn. Then she offers herself to him. Unfortunately, while they are talking, dawn breaks. Compromised by her presence in de Ramière’s rooms at that hour, Indiana returns to her home, where Delmare, agitated by the discovery of her absence, receives her with cold suspicion.
Soon afterward, Delmare suffers business reverses and faces complete ruin. Indiana contritely goes with him to the Isle of Bourbon, where he hopes to make another fortune. Unhappy in her new home, she lives only for the letters de Ramière writes her. At last, she decides to leave Delmare and arranges for her secret passage back to France. On her arrival in Paris, she learns that fickle de Ramière recently married.
Indiana for weeks lives a miserable existence. Penniless and starving, she decides to die. When she and Sir Ralph, who followed her to Paris, are strangely reunited, they agree to commit suicide by drowning. At the last minute, however, they change their minds. Moved by Sir Ralph’s devotion, Indiana realizes that he is the man she truly loves. Together they forsake civilization and live as recluses, away from all people and society, but satisfied and happy at last.
Bibliography
Crecelius, Kathryn J. Family Romances: George Sand’s Early Novels. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1987. Chronicles the early period of Sand’s literary career, when her thematic focus was directed toward rebellion against the oppression of traditional marriage. Offers criticism and interpretation of Indiana; considers the work in the context of other novels from this period in Sand’s career.
Datlof, Natalie, Jeanne Fuchs, and David A. Powell, eds. The World of George Sand. New York: Greenwood Press, 1991. Contains papers presented at the Seventh International George Sand Conference at Hofstra University in 1986. A number of articles will prove useful to Indiana scholars, such as Marilyn Yalom’s “George Sand’s Poetics of Autobiography” and Margaret E. Ward and Karen Storz’s “Fanny Lewald and George Sand: Eine Lebensfrage and Indiana.”
Dickenson, Donna. George Sand: A Brave Man, the Most Womanly Woman. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1988. Offers insight into Sand’s work, her life as an author, and her struggle as a woman attaining literary success in a primarily male field. Examines her open rejection of women’s roles and discusses her noted rebellions and successes.
Eisler, Benita. Naked in the Marketplace: The Lives of George Sand. New York: Basic Books, 2006. Drawing on Sand’s substantial body of correspondence, Eisler explores the complicated personality of the radical nineteenth century feminist. This biography focuses especially on Sand’s impressively active and lengthy love life and its impact on her literary output.
Goodwin-Jones, Robert. Romantic Vision: The Novels of George Sand. Birmingham, Ala.: Summa, 1995. A thematic analysis of about forty of Sand’s novels, including Indiana. Includes an introductory discussion of Sand as a novelist.
Harkness, Nigel. Men of Their Words: The Poetics of Masculinity in George Sand’s Fiction. London: Legenda/Modern Humanities Research Association, 2007. Harkness examines questions of masculinity in Sand’s fiction within the context of the nineteenth century French novel, describing how her novels repeatedly depict the connection of masculinity, power, and language.
Massardier-Kenney, Françoise. Gender in the Fiction of George Sand. Atlanta: Rodopi, 2000. Argues that Sand’s novels express a complex and extremely modern conception of gender, in which she questions prevalent patriarchal modes of discourse and redefines masculinity and femininity.
Naginski, Isabelle Hoog. George Sand: Writing for Her Life. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1991. This book avoids the biographical approach common to Sand criticism. It identifies four specific periods of Sand’s writing and examines each, focusing on common themes rather than on a detailed analysis of each work.
Sand, George. Story of My Life: The Autobiography of George Sand—A Group Translation. Edited and translated by Thelma Jurgrau. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991. Offers a wealth of insight into the author’s life and work. A critical introduction by Thelma Jurgrau and a historical introduction by Walter D. Gray provide insightful commentaries that set the context of Sand’s autobiography.
Schor, Naomi. George Sand and Idealism. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993. An examination of feminism and idealism in Sand’s novels. Explores Sand’s Romanticism; considers the influence of society and politics on her work.