Friday 17 December 2010

Birdsong (Part 1 - France 1910)

Note: The following comments are based solely on the first 47 pages of the book.

The opening to the novel presents an idyllic France and introduces Stephen Wraysford, along with us, to the Azaire family. We learn that René Azaire owns a fabric factory in Amiens, which is on the verge of a strike due to the proposed implementation of machinery and loss of jobs. On the first night of his stay with the Azaires, Stephen hears noises coming from another room in the house. Investigating the disturbance, it turns out to be "a woman's voice...almost like sobbing, interrupted by a more material sound of brief impact". It seems probable that domestic violence is taking place in the room, and Stephen "tense[s] his hands into fists by his ribs", before running away. In his notebook, Stephen takes notes (in code as to not be discovered) but is surprised to see that "what struck him most he had not written about at all".

Later, when Stephen confronts Isabelle Azaire about the noises he heard the previous night, she tells him he "must not humiliate" her, and that he should "respect [her] position". She is clearly afraid of what her husband might do if Stephen causes trouble, which is common with victims of domestic violence, and so she shrugs off his offer of help. The chapter ends with her "shaking her head, as though in defiance of some unwanted feeling".

We are introduced to René Azaire's friend Bérard and his wife, who is described solely as Madamé Berard. We get the impression that Bérard is a frequent guest at the Azaire household, as he arrives promptly after dinner on both nights Stephen stays there. He comes of as a very pompous, somewhat rude man who invites other people to agree with him, but "cutting them off before they had the chance to spoil his version of harmony with actual thoughts of their own". Madamé Berard, who is described as "having eyes only for her husband", frequently cheers on Berard and calls him "papa". I did some reaserch on this word and, as expected, it simply means 'father'. Quite why Madamé Berard calls her husband 'father' has not yet been explained, but judging by the wink of agreement Berard and Azaire shared when Azaire sent his wife to bed, it could very well be possible that their relationship is failing too.

1 comment:

Poetry of the Day said...

it sounds really good so far