Essay Questions

Why do young soldiers look for attachment before war?

Roy writes, “Louise was even engaged to a young soldier she had first met in the restaurant. Since there was a war, and the newly enlisted young men felt the urge for an attachment before they left for training camp, friendships were quickly made, and under very new conditions.” The soldiers search for girlfriends to mollify their unconscious yearning for affection which they are sure would not be available once they start training. They create memories with new girlfriends that would sustain them throughout the training duration. The memories would be a substitute for real girlfriends while training is on.

What psychoanalytic deductions would you make from Jean's behavior ‘at the foundry’?

Roy elucidates, “The whole afternoon at the foundry, Jean, who should have been giving his full attention to a motor he was repairing was surprised to find himself thinking, I’m stupid, God, am stupid! What do I want, getting mixed up with that Florentine. When those kids get their hooks into you they never let go. I don’t want to see her again. What got into me, asking her for a date." Jean becomes remorseful after approaching Florentine. He clearly as a fear of attachment because he dreads that she may be obsessed with him.

Roy adds , "He had thought he could pull back from this flirtation, which was barely started in any case. That's what he had done in the past, stopping halfway in his rate attempts at a conquest." Jean does not like a serious relationship; he does not like going beyond flirting. Jean is not emotionally ready to be committed to a woman. Accordingly, the possibility of going out with Florentine terrifies him although he is the one who approached her and suggested a date.

How does Jean utilize the concept of alter ego?

Roy writes, "Then, walking alone in the darkening street, he burst out laughing. He had just thought how he must appear to Florentine: a joke, a bad boy, maybe even dangerous, probably attractive, like a real danger. At the same time he realized how many contradictions there were between himself and the character he had created for other people: the smart guy who liked to astonish by boasting about his supposed wildlife, a guy who was admired. The true Jean Levesque was quite different: quiet, stubborn and, most of all, hard working.”

Jean embraces different personalities depending on the circumstance. He does not portray his real self when dealing with Florentine because he reckons that it is a filtration that would not advance into a serious relationship. He gives other people the impression of a wild guy, yet he is ‘quiet and hardworking" in reality. People who meet him in various circumstances would have an impression that he wants them, which may not necessarily be his real personality. Jean is an expert in exploiting alter egos to suit his objectives when he interacts with various people.