Duras Day 3

When Chauvin is speaking about the woman who died he said, "When he called her she came back. And when he told her to go, she left. To obey him like that was her way of hoping. And even when she reached the threshold she waited for him to tell her to come in." Later on,  he says to Anne, "I'd like you to leave....Anne Desbaresdes got up from her chair and stood motionless in the middle of the room." (Chapter 6)
     I think this quote shows the parallel between the couple and Chauvin and Anne. The woman who died did everything her husband told her to, just as Anne does with Chauvin. It also shows a shift in their relationship. In previous chapters Chauvin is constantly asking Anne to stay longer, to drink more wine. Now he is telling her to leave. It seems like she made him uncomfortable when she touched her neck. His desires overtook him but then reminds himself that she is married. This is my reading of it. His comment telling her to leave is so abrupt that I am not sure how to take it. I do think this shows the shift in their relationship. He wants her to leave after asking her so many times to stay longer. 




“Anne Desbaresdes did not go in, but paused at the door of the cafe. Chauvin came over to her. When he reached her she turned towards the Boulevard da la Mer...."
"Chauvin raised his head towards the dark blue sky, which was still faintly lighted, and moved closer. She did not move back.” (Chapter 6)
   I think this quote shows that their relationship is coming to an end. She has never really paused before she entered the Cafe. There are a few instances in this chapter where she mentions that she needs to get home, that she has to go to a party. Chauvin repeatedly attempts to get closer to her and she doesn't reciprocate his actions. While I think their relationship is coming to an end, I don't think she wants to leave him. She keeps saying its getting late and they shouldn't drink so much wine, yet she continues to drink and stays to talk with him. 




"Tonight one of them does not share the others' appetite. She comes from the other end of town, from beyond the breakwaters and oil depots at the other end of the Boulevard de la Mer, from beyond the limits imposed upon her ten years before, where a man had offered her more wine than she could handle." (Chapter 7)
     During this chapter, they are at a dinner party. During this scene, food seems to be symbolic of the rules of society. By refusing the duck at the table it is as if she is refusing to behave how she is 'supposed to'. The others at the dinner party gossip about it. She no longer cares what people think of her.