The Wind: Attempted Restoration of a Baroque Altarpiece: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Wind: Attempted Restoration of a Baroque Altarpiece" explores the intricate dynamics of a small town through the lens of Antoine Montès, a man returning to claim his inherited vineyard after being estranged from his father. Upon his arrival, Montès encounters a mix of acceptance and rejection from the townspeople, including his romantic interest, Rose, a waitress with a troubled past, and several relatives who have their own agendas. The narrative delves into the lives of key characters such as Maurice, a nosy fertilizer salesman with ulterior motives, and Cécile, Rose’s younger sister, who becomes infatuated with Montès and navigates her own tumultuous relationships. Hélène, Cécile’s older sister, plays a pivotal role in unraveling schemes of blackmail and theft that threaten their family's reputation. With a complex web of relationships, including an unstable priest and a resistant bailiff, the story highlights themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the struggle for identity within a tightly-knit community. The varied perspectives of these characters create a rich tapestry that reflects the challenges of familial ties and social expectations in a small-town setting.
The Wind: Attempted Restoration of a Baroque Altarpiece: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Claude Simon
First published: Le Vent: Tentative de restitution d'un retable baroque, 1957 (English translation, 1959)
Genre: Novel
Locale: A small town in southern France
Plot: Antistory
Time: The 1950's
Antoine Montès (ahn-TWAHN mohn-TEHZ), age thirty-five, who arrives in a small town to take possession of a vineyard inherited from a father whom he has never known. His mother had left the town and Antoine's father after she discovered him making love to the maid. Montès fires the bailiff, who refuses to uproot his own family from the property. Montès makes the acquaintance of several people in a town that generally rejects him: Rose (with whom he falls in love), Maurice, distant cousins, the notary, and a stranger (the narrator) whom he meets in a photography shop.
Maurice (moh-REES), a pretentious and nosy fertilizer salesman. He tries to befriend Montès and discovers that he is hiding stolen goods for Rose. He steals a note written by Cécile to Montès and tries to blackmail her father with it.
Cécile (say-SEEL), the younger, tomboyish daughter of Montès' distant relative. She breaks off her relationship with her fiancé as she becomes enamored of Montès and writes Montès a note. When she is found out by her older sister, she forces her former fiancé to make love to her.
Hélène (ay-LEHN), the older sister of Cécile. She discovers Cécile's relationship with Montès and is successful in thwarting Maurice's attempts at blackmailing their father. She informs the authorities about the stolen goods and Jep's role in the burglary by going to the prosecutor's house. She tells his wife that Rose had been in her employ. Having discovered Rose and Jep making love in her house, she dismissed Rose, who was then hired by the victims of the latest burglary.
The notary, who would like Montès to sell his property and leave the town. He believes, with the other people in town, that Montès is an imbecile for not doing so.
The social worker, who allows Montès to visit Rose's two orphaned children on the first Thursday of every month but discourages him from trying to adopt them.
The priest, who has received the stolen goods from Montès so that he might return them to the rightful owner.
Rose, a waitress in a very modest hotel. She and her two children are befriended by Montès. She confides in him and places in his care jewelry stolen by her husband.
Jep, a former boxer and Rose's gypsy husband. After Hélène informs on him to the authorities, he thinks that he has been betrayed by his wife, stabs her, and is later killed by the police in a scuffle.
Theresa, the older of Rose's daughters. She goes on a walk with Montès, during which they meet her father, who knocks him out in a fight.
The bailiff, an older man who lives on Montès'property with his wife and children. He does not want to leave the property when Montès returns to claim it. One of his daughters had been the father's mistress. In the lawsuit that ensues, the bailiff is awarded the property because of outstanding debts.
The prosecutor's wife, who is irate that she should be disturbed during dinner by Hélène. She believes that Hélène should have gone to her husband's office to inform him.
The narrator, a teacher and writer who becomes Montès' friend after they meet in a photography shop.