Essay Questions

What was Swann and Marcel's relationship?

Swann was Marcel's family friend and he used to come to their house in Combray. He used to stay late at night and it annoyed Marcel, who was a child. Marcel could not sleep at night without the goodnight kiss of his mother. In the presence of her guests, the mother was unable to wish him good night with a kiss. Marcel resents Swann's coming but he knew that he was very dear to his family. Marcel's parents prohibits Swann from marrying Odette owing to her nefarious reputation but he does not pay heed to their suggestion.

Why does Marcel yearn to go back?

Marcel used to go to his maternal grandparents in his childhood in Combray and it was a very pleasant phase of his life. In his old age, he yearns to go back to the time he spent among the beauty of nature. The paths of the village were mesmerizing and he could not resist the beauty of old days. He has described the people especially the women he encountered, plants, paths and the surrounding of the village in detail.

Which smell does remind Marcel of his childhood?

The smell of madeleine reminds him of his childhood days and the fear of going to bed at night. Marcel was so afraid of sleeping alone at night that he hates the night time. The only solace was her mother's good night kiss. There was a lantern in his room which was embellished with mythical and historical figures. Marcel stares at it for hours and imagines the characters moving on the walls of his room. His dreams also revolve around those figures and the charcters of the books which he used to read before sleeping. Whenever he eats madeleine cake with tea, the smell takes him back to his past.

What kind of person was Marcel, in terms of personality?

Marcel was a very intense person. He gets so much attached with the people or things which he loves. He was deeply in love with his mother and her presence; he also had an adoration for Swann's daughter in his childhood and then later in his youth but the girl resented her. Marcel was also obsessed with the beauty of nature and his childhood town. He feels an urge to shower all the happiness on the people whom he loves. He was passionate about writing and theatre. Marcel especially liked the actors and actresses and an actress named Berma, which never left his mind.