Restless Heart: Analysis of Major Characters
"Restless Heart: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the complex interpersonal dynamics and moral struggles of the central figures in a narrative centered around love, class disparity, and personal development. Thérèse Tarde, a twenty-year-old violinist, embodies innocence and beauty but grapples with her morally and culturally deprived upbringing. Engaged to the wealthy pianist Florent France, she finds herself torn between her affection for his noble character and the shame of her family's background, which starkly contrasts with Florent's affluent lifestyle.
Florent, characterized by his sensitivity and moral integrity, is drawn to Thérèse's purity but remains oblivious to the significant economic and social barriers between them. Meanwhile, Thérèse's parents, Monsieur and Madame Tarde, represent the moral decay from which she wishes to escape—her father is cowardly and hypocritical, while her mother is self-serving and manipulative, revealing the toxic environment from which Thérèse emerges. Gosta, the orchestra's pianist and Madame Tarde's lover, is embroiled in his own passions and frustrations, as he struggles with his unrequited love for Thérèse and the realization of his own limitations.
The narrative explores themes of alienation and self-discovery, ultimately leading Thérèse to confront the painful realities of her existence. As she seeks to reconcile her divided identity, the story presents a poignant examination of how cultural and social differences shape individual destinies, leaving readers to reflect on the complexities of love and personal integrity in a world marked by moral ambiguity.
Restless Heart: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Jean Anouilh
First published: La Sauvage, 1938 (English translation, 1957)
Genre: Play
Locale: France
Plot: Naturalism
Time: The 1930's
Thérèse Tarde (tay-REHZ tahrd), a twenty-year-old violinist engaged to Florent France. Honest and innocent, she attempts to overcome the moral and cultural deprivation she inherited from her parents. Her beauty and personality attract two opposing characters: Gosta, her mother's lover, and Florent, a wealthy, socially prominent musician. Despite Gosta's demonstrations of affection, she loves Florent for his musical talents, sensitivity, and correctness. Oblivious to her parents'pleas for marriage on materialistic grounds, she is attracted to his noble character. Her honesty induces guilt for her degenerate and sordid background, thereby alienating her from Florent's upright, affluent world. Shame impels her to reveal this division. During her engagement to Florent, she invites her father to Florent's house. His obscenity and pettiness demonstrate the obstacles between her and Florent. She decides to leave Florent, who, overcome by the pain of unrequited love, acknowledges their differences but, through this suffering, identifies with Thérèse. After hearing of Florent's remorse, Thérèse believes that she has reconciled her degenerate background with Florent's noble world. Traces of her “race” intrude: The seamstresses and maids do not belong in these surroundings and contrast with Florent's aunt, Madame Bazin, and his sister Marie. Gosta arrives to assassinate Florent. Although Thérèse prevents the killing, hope in the uniting of the two contrary realities dissolves into a self-understanding of her alienation. Morally, she is separated from the society of her parents; socially, she cannot adapt to Florent's world. Maturity and a realistic look at the situation incite her departure from both worlds and lead her to solitude and despair.
Florent France (floh-REHN frahns), a wealthy pianist and Thérèse's fiancé. Morally upright and sensitive, he is attracted to Thérèse's purity, beauty, and disdain of materialistic values. Blind to the realities of her economic deprivation and degenerate background, he does not perceive the tensions dividing them. After hearing of Thérèse's decision to leave, he suffers a rejection that coincides with Thérèse's pain. With Thérèse's departure, he is left alone in his affluent world and musical creativity.
Monsieur Tarde, Thérèse's sixty-year-old father, the director of, and double-bass player in, an orchestra. Weak and cowardly, he knows the reality of impoverishment and the necessity of survival. He is obsequious to the proprietor of the cheap café, and he permits his wife to have an adulterous relationship with Gosta. He is aware of Gosta's attraction to Thérèse but, afraid of Gosta's departure, refuses to inform him of her intention to marry Florent. During his daughter's engagement, he accepts Thérèse's invitation to stay at Florent's mansion, thereby allowing her to use him as a foil to express her deprived background. His vulgarity surfaces in his obscene remarks and overindulgence in food and drink. Eventually, cowardice, hypocrisy, and moral degeneration separate Thérèse from him. When Gosta arrives to kill Florent, he hides behind Thérèse. Unlike his daughter, he never recognizes the social, cultural, and moral deficiencies that distinguish his world from Florent's.
Madame Tarde, Thérèse's mother, a cellist in her husband's orchestra. Unlike her daughter, who aspires to moral integrity, she enjoys a thirteen-year adulterous relationship with Gosta. Mercenary and self-serving, she intends to profit financially from her daughter's marriage to Florent. Her singing of obscene songs reflects her low cultural standard. To ensure marriage, she advises Thérèse to be docile and false, thereby revealing a hypocrisy and cynicism that contrast with Thérèse's honesty and innocence.
Gosta (goh-STAH), the orchestra's pianist and Madame Tarde's lover. Although a generation older than Thérèse, he falls in love with her. Violent and impulsive, he becomes enraged and sullen when he learns of Thérèse's planned marriage to Florent. He weeps passionately over Thérèse's violin cover. Despite his thirteen-year relationship with Madame Tarde, the frustration of his unrequited love for Thérèse produces an anger resulting in his near-fatal beating of Madame Tarde. He attempts to kill Florent. Listening to Thérèse, however, he recognizes the differences dividing his situation from Florent's world and Thérèse's maturing vision. His hatred, Thérèse notes, results from his incapacity to attain nobility. Fatalism imposes on him a resignation to his social and moral place.
Jeannette, a violinist in the orchestra. Self-serving, she sees only economic security in marriage. Loyal to Thérèse, she conveys an untruth, fabricated by Thérèse, that reveals her friend's background.
Hartmann, a friend and adviser to Florent. Recognizing the cultural and economic differences between Thérèse and Florent, he describes to both of them the barriers dividing their worlds.