George Sand: Gabriel (Book Review)
George Sand's "dramatic novel" - i.e. a book written in dialogue form, like a play, but in length and structure more like a novel - hadn't been translated into German until rather recently (the publication only happened this year), when it made something of a splash with the reviewers, and now I've had the chance to read it. Originally, it was published in various installments in a magazine in 1839, and 1840 in book form, which makes it an early work of its author - George Sand, née Aurore Dupin, was born 1804 and died 1876. She's one of the writers whose unvonventional life - bisexual, divorced, often wearing male dress, ditched her lovers (including Chopin and Musset) rather than the other way around - is far better known than is her work, and I admit that while I had read her correspondence with Flaubert (which is great), I hadn't read yet one of her novels before, either.
Gabriel is fascinating in what it attempts, though the execution of its ideas and the late romantic style make it very "progressive for its day". Have a short summary:
*setting*: Vaguely hinted at to be the Italian Renaissance
Prince de Bramante: Other than the patriarchy, I'm the main villain. I got estranged from one of my sons, both of whom are dead now, which means that son's son can't be my heir. More about him later. Anyway, at the start of this book, I'm ominously questioning the teachers of my other grandkid, the offspring of my other son, whom I've had raised in complete isolation. So, teacher: Have you raised my grandkid Gabriel exactly as instructed?
Teacher: Yes, Sir! Told him day in and day out that women are the scum of the Earth and men are all that's noble. I'm happy to report he likes riding, sports, learning, and abhors silliness and women, that is, he's bound to abhor them. He doesn't know any yet.
Prince de Bramante: Excellent! That's my kind of grandson. My master plan will come true. Minions, tell my grandson I will now meet him for the first time. Time to tell him the full truth.
Teacher: So, Gabriel, when you meet your grandfather, there may be some upsetting things happening, but remember, be the perfect man I raised you at. Emotional scenes and weakness are for WOMEN, right?
Gabriel: I don't know why you always keep going on about women. I mean, I take your word for it that they suck, but maybe they were raised to, and also, I don't think my soul has a gender despite yoou insisting it does. *exit to meet evil Gramps*
Teacher: I and Marc observe the fateful conversation between Gabriel and the Princce from a distance, as if the three unities still apply for French theatre and this isn't a novel anyway. OMG! Gabriel storms off like I feared.
Gabriel: I can't believe this! You've all been lying to me since birth, and now my horror of a Granddad says I either have to be complicit in this charade or join a cloister, whether as a monk or nun he did not specify. Also, what about my poor cousin Astolphe, the next male heir after Grandpa? Am I to be the instrument to swindle him out of his inheritance? No way! I've been raised to believe in honor. Teacher, you suck. Marc the servant who helped raising me, we're off to find Astolphe.
Astolphe: I'm supposed to be a dashing charming rogue, but my charm really doesn't translate, starting with my introduction scene where I'm trash talking my current mistress with a male buddy. But then, women, eh? They're either whores or silly stupid convent girls. If not for having sex with them, who'd want to be around one?
Astolphe: *is mugged by a couple of bandits, tries to fight them off*
Gabriel: *has just managed to track down Astolphe, jumps into the fight, is a valiant swordsman*
Astolphe and Gabriel: *fight off the bandits together, have a meet cute*
Astolphe: So you're my beardless, tender-looking yet superbly fighting cousin who gets all the money of evil old Gramps?
Gabriel: I am, and I intend to share it and what I have already with you, because that's just not fair.
Astolphe: Wow. I admit I myseslf wasted my little inheritance from my mother's side already, but you could be a good influence. Let's become bffs!
Faustina: I'm Astolphe's latest mistress, whom he trashtalks and now doesn't have time for. My previous methods of pointing out he's not my only lover fail to make him jealous. What's a courtesan to do?
Astolphe: Gabriel, buddy and cousin, I have this great idea, since you have no beard and have this soft skin and all, and it's carneval time in Rome. Why don't you dress up as a woman?
Gabriel: This is messing with my head like you wouldn't believe, but I'm falling in love with you, so I'm doing it. Well. Turns out I like the quality of some of the dress materials, which feel nice on the skin, but ugh, they're so impractical to walk in.
Astolphe: OMG, you're sooooo beautiful as a woman, cousin, I'm having odd feelings.
Faustina: *Jealousy scene* *is not helping with the gender issues*
End result: Astolphe finds out Gabriel is a woman; love confession ensues
Gabrielle: Until now, I've been refered to as "he" and "Gabriel" by the text. Now I'm "she" and "Gabrielle", but, spoiler, it won't stay this way. After confessing our love to each other, Astolphe and I have decided we'll live a double existence. On the one hand, as Gabrielle, he'll introduce me as his wife to his mother and some other people, though note we're not actually married yet, this is a plot point. On the other hand, as Gabriel, I'm still showing up in some Italian cities, not least because otherwise Evil Gramps will think I'm dead and won't send income anymore.
Astolphe: I'm madly in love with you. The "mad" part is starting to dominate. When you're Gabriel, I can't stand it to watch my friends touch you in supposedly harmless, male buddy ways. How about you stay Gabrielle all the time?
Gabrielle: How about not? I need my stints of freedom in clothing as much as behaviour now and then, which I can't have as a woman. Can't you accept this?
Astolphe's mother: Who this hussy without a family or a dime to her name? I'm telling you, she just wants you becaue you're a Prince's disgraced yet potentially rich grandson! Also I'm jealous.
Astolphe's mother: *is not helping gender representation in this book, either*
Astolphe: Women are scum. Gabrielle is the only exception and so not like other girls. I love that about her. And yet - OMG, is Antonio holding her hand?!?
Prince de Bramante: Teacher, track down my errant grandson Gabriel and tell him if he doesn't ditch his cousin as a buddy and shows up in person in front of me soon, I'll do something unpleasant.
Astolphe: Gabrielle, I can't stand it anymore. You must marry me for real and be a woman all the time.
Gabrielle: No.
Astolphe: You're in love with Antonio, admit it! Women are faithless and hyperemotional and...
Gabrielle: OMG, you're not the man I fell in love with. One last chance, Astolphe. I'm leaving you now and giving you time to think.
Teacher: *arrives too late to catch up with Gabrielle, but has a serious conversation with Astolphe*: Now listen, young man. I admit this mess is partly my fault, and I am completely repentant that I let myself hired by Bramante, but fact is, Gabriel has a freedom loving soul. He'll never subject to live as a wife, and if you love him, you won't ask this of him. Also, is he paying your living expenses or is he not?
Astolphe: This is not the point. *broods*
Gabriel: For the rest of the book, I'm again referred to in the male form and wearing male dress. I'm in Rome again, getting an audience with the Pope.
Antonio: I've figured out you're a woman. Should have known since Astolphe presented you during last carneval, I'd never have fallen for a guy. Let's get it on, my pretty!
Gabriel: Back off, creep! *slaps him*
Antonio: Now if you were a man, I'd have to challenge you to a duel to avenge this insult, but since I'm convinced you're a woman, I'll kiss this pretty hand that slapped me instead.
Gabriel: In your dreams. *draws sword* Duel time!
Antonio: *finds out Gabriel is a lethal fencer, gets defeatead and severely wounded*
*meanwhile*
Astolphe: I'm busy drinking myself into oblivion.
Faustina: Look who's back! Seems the whole gang is back in town. I saw Antonio who says he's here to shack up with your new squeeze. Guess you'll be bitching about her now the way you did about me.
Astolphe: *rages in jealousy*
Teacher: *still in pursuit of his old student* OMG! I've just found out Gabriel has met the Pope to get a papal decree allowing him to remain single and to transfer the inheritance of the Bramante line to you, Astolphe. He's the noblest, and you don't deserve him.
Astolphe: She's a liar who only did that to soothe her conscience so she can shack up with Antonio, the whore!
Teacher: Gabriel would never.
Antonio enters wounded: Hi, Astolphe. Just had a duel with your buddy Gabriel who isn't a woman after alll, because clearly, no woman could have defeated me. Should not have tried to paw him, I guess. That's a mighty serious wound.
Astolphe: OMG she IS innocent and noble! I must find her and declare my renewed love! *does so*
Gabriel: Yeah, no. Watching you with Faustina killed the last of my love for you. I made sure you get the Bramante money so I'll never have to see you again.
Astolphe: Another chance? I'll be faithful!
Gabriel: I don't care, you'll be madly jealous again and try to imprison me, faithful or not. Goodbye!
This is not the end, alas, since it would have been a good one. Instead:
Bandit: Evil Gramps has paid me to kill his disobedient grandson in revenge for getting the Pope to transfer the ineritance.
Gabriel: Having realised a free life with love is impossible in the patriarchy, I'm feeling depressed and thus don't spot the bandit until it's too late.
Bandit: *attacks, gets first trike in*
Gabriel: *fights back, but is fatally wounded*
Gabriel: *dies*
Astolphe: arrives on the scene too late: Woe! I'll mourn her for the rest of my life!
Teacher: Ditto, though I say "him"!
This reviewer: Young George Sand, you should have ended a scene/sequence earlier!
In conclusion: There's a lot that was, and partly still is innovative about Gabriel - the basic premise that gender comes through nurture, not nature, is still bound to get a part of the population indignant, the usual "girl disguised as boy, meets boy who falls for he and she for him" trope happens a third in and instead of making this the happy ending, the rest of the story deals with the consequences, and the idea that the hero/heroine would just unquestioningly prefer to live as a woman in order to form a conventional pairing with her love interest is completely deconstructed. As is "(romantic) love above everything". Gabriel doesn't stop wanting and liking the things he/she did for the first two decades of their life. However, unfortunately Gabriel is the sole likeable character in the whole saga, except for Marc the loyal servant who hardly gets any lines. It's especially glaring with the two other female characters, which creates a "not like other girls" kind of aura, though one can say Faustina and Astolphe's mother are the product of the society that formed them (indeed Gabriel makes that case in 19th century language), but even with that premise, just one more sympathetic female character could have existed. Otoh, the men aren't any better. Which is a problem in the case of Astolphe, because even a deconstructed love interest should come across as attractive at first, if two women and a couple of men are drawn to him, and this guy appalled me from the get go.
And that's not mentioning the ending: as I said, the perfect ending would have been to stop the story one sequence earlier, but no, Gabriel can't take off and live their life after having refused to be tied down, he/she must die tragically, literally killed by the Überpatriarch. George Sand lived more courageously than she wrote at this point, which is fascinating because usually it's more the other way around. Still, I'm glad to have read the novel.
Gabriel is fascinating in what it attempts, though the execution of its ideas and the late romantic style make it very "progressive for its day". Have a short summary:
*setting*: Vaguely hinted at to be the Italian Renaissance
Prince de Bramante: Other than the patriarchy, I'm the main villain. I got estranged from one of my sons, both of whom are dead now, which means that son's son can't be my heir. More about him later. Anyway, at the start of this book, I'm ominously questioning the teachers of my other grandkid, the offspring of my other son, whom I've had raised in complete isolation. So, teacher: Have you raised my grandkid Gabriel exactly as instructed?
Teacher: Yes, Sir! Told him day in and day out that women are the scum of the Earth and men are all that's noble. I'm happy to report he likes riding, sports, learning, and abhors silliness and women, that is, he's bound to abhor them. He doesn't know any yet.
Prince de Bramante: Excellent! That's my kind of grandson. My master plan will come true. Minions, tell my grandson I will now meet him for the first time. Time to tell him the full truth.
Teacher: So, Gabriel, when you meet your grandfather, there may be some upsetting things happening, but remember, be the perfect man I raised you at. Emotional scenes and weakness are for WOMEN, right?
Gabriel: I don't know why you always keep going on about women. I mean, I take your word for it that they suck, but maybe they were raised to, and also, I don't think my soul has a gender despite yoou insisting it does. *exit to meet evil Gramps*
Teacher: I and Marc observe the fateful conversation between Gabriel and the Princce from a distance, as if the three unities still apply for French theatre and this isn't a novel anyway. OMG! Gabriel storms off like I feared.
Gabriel: I can't believe this! You've all been lying to me since birth, and now my horror of a Granddad says I either have to be complicit in this charade or join a cloister, whether as a monk or nun he did not specify. Also, what about my poor cousin Astolphe, the next male heir after Grandpa? Am I to be the instrument to swindle him out of his inheritance? No way! I've been raised to believe in honor. Teacher, you suck. Marc the servant who helped raising me, we're off to find Astolphe.
Astolphe: I'm supposed to be a dashing charming rogue, but my charm really doesn't translate, starting with my introduction scene where I'm trash talking my current mistress with a male buddy. But then, women, eh? They're either whores or silly stupid convent girls. If not for having sex with them, who'd want to be around one?
Astolphe: *is mugged by a couple of bandits, tries to fight them off*
Gabriel: *has just managed to track down Astolphe, jumps into the fight, is a valiant swordsman*
Astolphe and Gabriel: *fight off the bandits together, have a meet cute*
Astolphe: So you're my beardless, tender-looking yet superbly fighting cousin who gets all the money of evil old Gramps?
Gabriel: I am, and I intend to share it and what I have already with you, because that's just not fair.
Astolphe: Wow. I admit I myseslf wasted my little inheritance from my mother's side already, but you could be a good influence. Let's become bffs!
Faustina: I'm Astolphe's latest mistress, whom he trashtalks and now doesn't have time for. My previous methods of pointing out he's not my only lover fail to make him jealous. What's a courtesan to do?
Astolphe: Gabriel, buddy and cousin, I have this great idea, since you have no beard and have this soft skin and all, and it's carneval time in Rome. Why don't you dress up as a woman?
Gabriel: This is messing with my head like you wouldn't believe, but I'm falling in love with you, so I'm doing it. Well. Turns out I like the quality of some of the dress materials, which feel nice on the skin, but ugh, they're so impractical to walk in.
Astolphe: OMG, you're sooooo beautiful as a woman, cousin, I'm having odd feelings.
Faustina: *Jealousy scene* *is not helping with the gender issues*
End result: Astolphe finds out Gabriel is a woman; love confession ensues
Gabrielle: Until now, I've been refered to as "he" and "Gabriel" by the text. Now I'm "she" and "Gabrielle", but, spoiler, it won't stay this way. After confessing our love to each other, Astolphe and I have decided we'll live a double existence. On the one hand, as Gabrielle, he'll introduce me as his wife to his mother and some other people, though note we're not actually married yet, this is a plot point. On the other hand, as Gabriel, I'm still showing up in some Italian cities, not least because otherwise Evil Gramps will think I'm dead and won't send income anymore.
Astolphe: I'm madly in love with you. The "mad" part is starting to dominate. When you're Gabriel, I can't stand it to watch my friends touch you in supposedly harmless, male buddy ways. How about you stay Gabrielle all the time?
Gabrielle: How about not? I need my stints of freedom in clothing as much as behaviour now and then, which I can't have as a woman. Can't you accept this?
Astolphe's mother: Who this hussy without a family or a dime to her name? I'm telling you, she just wants you becaue you're a Prince's disgraced yet potentially rich grandson! Also I'm jealous.
Astolphe's mother: *is not helping gender representation in this book, either*
Astolphe: Women are scum. Gabrielle is the only exception and so not like other girls. I love that about her. And yet - OMG, is Antonio holding her hand?!?
Prince de Bramante: Teacher, track down my errant grandson Gabriel and tell him if he doesn't ditch his cousin as a buddy and shows up in person in front of me soon, I'll do something unpleasant.
Astolphe: Gabrielle, I can't stand it anymore. You must marry me for real and be a woman all the time.
Gabrielle: No.
Astolphe: You're in love with Antonio, admit it! Women are faithless and hyperemotional and...
Gabrielle: OMG, you're not the man I fell in love with. One last chance, Astolphe. I'm leaving you now and giving you time to think.
Teacher: *arrives too late to catch up with Gabrielle, but has a serious conversation with Astolphe*: Now listen, young man. I admit this mess is partly my fault, and I am completely repentant that I let myself hired by Bramante, but fact is, Gabriel has a freedom loving soul. He'll never subject to live as a wife, and if you love him, you won't ask this of him. Also, is he paying your living expenses or is he not?
Astolphe: This is not the point. *broods*
Gabriel: For the rest of the book, I'm again referred to in the male form and wearing male dress. I'm in Rome again, getting an audience with the Pope.
Antonio: I've figured out you're a woman. Should have known since Astolphe presented you during last carneval, I'd never have fallen for a guy. Let's get it on, my pretty!
Gabriel: Back off, creep! *slaps him*
Antonio: Now if you were a man, I'd have to challenge you to a duel to avenge this insult, but since I'm convinced you're a woman, I'll kiss this pretty hand that slapped me instead.
Gabriel: In your dreams. *draws sword* Duel time!
Antonio: *finds out Gabriel is a lethal fencer, gets defeatead and severely wounded*
*meanwhile*
Astolphe: I'm busy drinking myself into oblivion.
Faustina: Look who's back! Seems the whole gang is back in town. I saw Antonio who says he's here to shack up with your new squeeze. Guess you'll be bitching about her now the way you did about me.
Astolphe: *rages in jealousy*
Teacher: *still in pursuit of his old student* OMG! I've just found out Gabriel has met the Pope to get a papal decree allowing him to remain single and to transfer the inheritance of the Bramante line to you, Astolphe. He's the noblest, and you don't deserve him.
Astolphe: She's a liar who only did that to soothe her conscience so she can shack up with Antonio, the whore!
Teacher: Gabriel would never.
Antonio enters wounded: Hi, Astolphe. Just had a duel with your buddy Gabriel who isn't a woman after alll, because clearly, no woman could have defeated me. Should not have tried to paw him, I guess. That's a mighty serious wound.
Astolphe: OMG she IS innocent and noble! I must find her and declare my renewed love! *does so*
Gabriel: Yeah, no. Watching you with Faustina killed the last of my love for you. I made sure you get the Bramante money so I'll never have to see you again.
Astolphe: Another chance? I'll be faithful!
Gabriel: I don't care, you'll be madly jealous again and try to imprison me, faithful or not. Goodbye!
This is not the end, alas, since it would have been a good one. Instead:
Bandit: Evil Gramps has paid me to kill his disobedient grandson in revenge for getting the Pope to transfer the ineritance.
Gabriel: Having realised a free life with love is impossible in the patriarchy, I'm feeling depressed and thus don't spot the bandit until it's too late.
Bandit: *attacks, gets first trike in*
Gabriel: *fights back, but is fatally wounded*
Gabriel: *dies*
Astolphe: arrives on the scene too late: Woe! I'll mourn her for the rest of my life!
Teacher: Ditto, though I say "him"!
This reviewer: Young George Sand, you should have ended a scene/sequence earlier!
In conclusion: There's a lot that was, and partly still is innovative about Gabriel - the basic premise that gender comes through nurture, not nature, is still bound to get a part of the population indignant, the usual "girl disguised as boy, meets boy who falls for he and she for him" trope happens a third in and instead of making this the happy ending, the rest of the story deals with the consequences, and the idea that the hero/heroine would just unquestioningly prefer to live as a woman in order to form a conventional pairing with her love interest is completely deconstructed. As is "(romantic) love above everything". Gabriel doesn't stop wanting and liking the things he/she did for the first two decades of their life. However, unfortunately Gabriel is the sole likeable character in the whole saga, except for Marc the loyal servant who hardly gets any lines. It's especially glaring with the two other female characters, which creates a "not like other girls" kind of aura, though one can say Faustina and Astolphe's mother are the product of the society that formed them (indeed Gabriel makes that case in 19th century language), but even with that premise, just one more sympathetic female character could have existed. Otoh, the men aren't any better. Which is a problem in the case of Astolphe, because even a deconstructed love interest should come across as attractive at first, if two women and a couple of men are drawn to him, and this guy appalled me from the get go.
And that's not mentioning the ending: as I said, the perfect ending would have been to stop the story one sequence earlier, but no, Gabriel can't take off and live their life after having refused to be tied down, he/she must die tragically, literally killed by the Überpatriarch. George Sand lived more courageously than she wrote at this point, which is fascinating because usually it's more the other way around. Still, I'm glad to have read the novel.