5. Can you empatize with the protagonist? > Likes and Comments

5. Does Louis’s letter succeed in making the reader empatice with a character who is initially repulsive?

Contrast Louis’s outward cruelty with his inner suffering and the clarity with which he analyzes his own flaws. Are the family members truly the "monsters" Louis describes, or is his perspective distorted?

Reflect on the literary value of constructing a narrative around such a hostile and resentful protagonist.

From the beginning of the book, Louis acknowledges that he is describing himself and the events that shaped him with the goal of being better understood by his wife Isa. He says outfront that they stopped communicating early on in their marriage.

It was clear to me that he was not trying to whitewash his character and defects, and I found the narrative very interesting, which made me empathise with the author of the diary. I guess this is in great part due to Mauriac's craft as a writer.

At first I couldn't empatice with the protagonist, but near the end I could, so I consider the novel successful.

I thought that Marie had posted a comment on this topic earlier.

Mariangel wrote: "I thought that Marie had posted a comment on this topic earlier."

I had posted a comment, but realized it was too long (I tend to theologize a lot !) so I deleted it.

Basically, I can empathize with a character when he is sincere with himself and those around him. A true search for truth is to be admired.