Essay Questions

What is the significance of the novel’s title?

The title is taken from the actual condition of ennui, which is marked by an overall feeling of deep disinterest and depression felt by the sufferer. This condition is likewise felt by the protagonist of the novel, not because he doesn’t have anything to do but rather because all sense of purpose, all challenges in his life have all but been eradicated by his immense wealth. The title speaks both of the condition of ennui as well as the reasons why one might suffer from it through the use of the protagonist as a lens from which to view the matter.

Would you consider the book to be a form of fiction purely for entertainment or a social commentary?

The novel contains elements of both literary fiction and social commentary. Lord Glenthorn’s transformation from a world-weary wastrel of an aristocrat to nobleman of outstanding character is not just entertaining but also a fascinating study on class distinctions, the nature of man, and the quest for meaning and purpose. In discussing the later elements the novel also makes a commentary on the effect of wealth and the centrality of purpose to the overall well-being of a person, effectively making it not just a social commentary but an interesting treatise on human existence.

What do the caged songbirds symbolize in the novel?

The caged songbirds remark that a little girl makes about Lady Geraldine are a heavy-handed metaphor for the plight of women at the time of the novel’s writing. Like the songbirds, women were likewise “caged” in the sense that they were treated as property and expected to fulfill a role in society similar to a caged songbird: pleasant to listen to—if at all allowed to speak—and pretty to look at, much like a bit of decor. In response to this comparison Lady Geraldine remarks that some birds cannot live in captivity, giving the reader insight into her autonomous character.