The Poetics of Solitude in La Dernière Nuit by Emmanuel Bove Cover Image

La poétique de la solitude dans La dernière nuit d’Emmanuel Bove
The Poetics of Solitude in La Dernière Nuit by Emmanuel Bove

Author(s): Nezha Aït-Aïssa-Boukerdenna
Subject(s): French Literature, Theory of Literature, Sociology of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: solitude; quest for redemption; absurd; poetic; despair;

Summary/Abstract: This text analyzes the poetics of solitude in La dernière nuit through the character of Arnold, who is immersed in deep anguish and a futile existential quest. The central issue of the article is: How does Arnold's solitude develop and intensify through his nocturnal wandering and quest for redemption? Using a detailed analytical approach, the study explores how Arnold's solitude deepens as his journey progresses, thereby amplifying his distress. The text draws a parallel between Arnold and the myth of Sisyphus, where, like Sisyphus, Arnold endlessly attempts to redeem himself, without ever reaching his goal. The absurdity of his quest for redemption thus becomes a metaphor for the human condition in a world indifferent to individual suffering. The article concludes that Arnold's solitude is not merely a state, but rather a poetic and existential process that highlights the deep tensions between man and an unfeeling universe. This existential solitude, fueled by the constant failure of his attempts at redemption, consumes Arnold until the end, where, ironically, death comes just as he believes he has regained some control over his life.

  • Issue Year: 2025
  • Issue No: 43
  • Page Range: 133-155
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: French
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