“Julia, or New Eloise” Rousseau in brief summary
“I observed the customs of my time and published these letters,” the author writes in the Preface to a real philosophical and lyrical novel.
A small Swiss town. Educated and sensitive raznochinets Saint-Pre, like Abelard, falls in love with his apprentice Julia, the daughter of Baron d’Etange. And although the severe fate of the medieval philosopher does not threaten him, he knows that the baron will never agree to extradite a daughter for a man of the unborn.
Julia replies Saint-Pre with equally fervent love. However, brought up in strict rules, she does not think of love without marriage, and marriage – without the consent of the parents. “Take vain power, my friend, leave me the honor, I am ready to become your slave, but to live in innocence, I do not want to gain dominance over you at the cost of my dishonor,” Julia writes to her beloved. “The more I am fascinated by you, the more exalted are my feelings,” he replies
Julia learns that her father has identified her husband – his longtime friend, Mr. de Volmar, and in despair calls for his lover. Saint-Pre persuades the girl to flee with him, but she refuses: her escape “stabs the dagger into the mother’s breast” and “upsets the best of the fathers”. Torn apart by contradictory feelings, Julia becomes a mistress of Saint-Pré in a fit of passion, and immediately bitterly regrets this. “I did not understand what I was making, I chose my own doom, I forgot about everything, I thought only
Saint-Pre suffers – from the suffering of Julia. He is insulted by the repentance of his beloved. “So I’m only worthy of contempt, if you despise yourself for joining me, if the joy of my life for you is torture?” he asks. Julia finally recognizes that only “love is the cornerstone of our whole life.” “There is no more chastity in the world than the bonds of true love, only love, its divine fire can purify our natural inclinations, concentrating all thoughts on the beloved object.” The flame of love ennobles and cleanses loving caresses, decency and decency accompany it even in the bosom of voluptuous bliss, and only she knows how to combine all this with ardent desires, but without violating modesty. ” Unable to fight the passion any longer, Julia calls Saint-Pre to a night date.
The meetings are repeated, Saint-Pre is happy, he revels in the love of his “unearthly angel.” But in society an unapproachable beauty Julia likes many men, including the distinguished English traveler Edward Bomston; my lord constantly praises her. Once in a man’s company, heated with wine, Sir Bomston speaks very fervently about Julia, which causes a sharp displeasure of Saint-Pre. Lover of Julia summons the Englishman to a duel.
In love with Clara, Mr. d’Orb tells of the incident of his own heart, and that of Julia. Julia begs her lover to give up the fight: the Englishman is a dangerous and formidable opponent, moreover, in the eyes of the society Saint-Pre has no right to act as Yulia’s defender, his behavior can cast a shadow on her and reveal their secret. Julia also writes to Sir Edward: she admits to him that Saint-Pre is her lover, and she “adores him.” If he kills Saint-Pre, he will kill two at once, for she “will not live a day” after the death of her lover.
Noble Sir Edward in the presence of witnesses apologizes to Saint-Pre. Bomston and Saint-Pré become friends. An Englishman with participation refers to the troubles of lovers. Having met Julia’s father in the company, he tries to convince him that marriage ties with the unknown, but talented and noble Saint-Pre do not infringe on the noble family’s dignity of D’Etange. However, the baron is adamant; moreover, he forbids his daughter from seeing Saint-Pre. In order to avoid a scandal, Sir Edward takes his friend on a trip, not allowing him to even say goodbye to Julia.
Bomston is indignant: the immaculate bonds of love are created by nature itself, and one should not sacrifice them to social prejudices. “For the sake of universal justice, such excess of power should be uprooted, it is the duty of every person to oppose violence, to promote order.” And if it depended on me to unite our lovers, against the will of the foolish old man, I would, of course, complete the predestination from above, without regard for the opinion of the world ” “he writes to Claret.
Saint-Pre in desperation; Julia in confusion. She is jealous of Clara: her feelings for Mr. d’Orbus are calm and even, and her father is not going to resist the choice of her daughter.
St. Pré parted with Sir Edward and went to Paris. From there he sends Julia a lengthy description of the mores of Parisian light, far from serving the honor of the latter. Having succumbed to the general pursuit of pleasure, Saint-Pre changes Julia and writes her a penitential letter. Julia forgives the beloved, but warns him: it is easy to step into the path of debauchery, but it is impossible to leave it.
Unexpectedly, Julia’s mother discovers her daughter’s correspondence with her lover. The good lady D’Etange has nothing against Saint-Pre, but knowing that Julia’s father will never give his consent to the marriage of a daughter with a “homeless vagabond”, she is tormented with remorse that she could not save her daughter, and soon dies. Julia, considering herself guilty of the death of her mother, submissively agrees to become Wolmar’s wife. “It is time to give up the mistakes of youth and from deceptive hopes, I will never belong to you,” she tells Saint-Pre. “Oh love, can you avenge you for the loss of your loved ones!” exclaims Saint-Pre in a woeful letter to Clara, who became Mme. d’Orbe.
Clever Clara asks Saint-Pre to not write to Julia any more: she “married and will make a decent man happy who wants to unite his destiny with her destiny”. Moreover, Mrs. d’Orbe believes that, having married, Julia saved both lovers – “from shame, and you, who deprived her of honor, from repentance.”
Julia returns to the fold of virtue. She again sees “all the abomination of sin,” she awakens love for prudence, she praises her father for giving it to the protection of a worthy spouse “endowed with meek disposition and pleasantness.” “Monsieur de Wolmar is about fifty years old, because of his calm, measured life and spiritual tranquility, he has preserved his health and freshness – he does not seem to give you a chance to look forty… He has a noble appearance and disposition, simple and sincere communication, he says little, and speeches it is full of deep meaning, “Julia describes her husband. Wolmar loves his wife, but his passion is “equal and restrained,” for he always acts as “the mind tells him.”
St. Pré goes on a round-the-world voyage, and for several years there has been no news of him. When he returns, he immediately writes to Clara, informing him of his desire to see her and, of course, with Julia, for “nowhere, in the whole world” he met no one “who could console a loving heart” …
The closer Switzerland and the village of Claren, where Julia now lives, the more worried Saint-Pre. And finally – a long-awaited meeting. Julia, an exemplary wife and mother, represents Saint-Pre two of her sons. Wolmar himself escorts the guest to the apartments assigned to him, and, seeing his embarrassment, instructs: “Our friendship begins, here are the loving bonds of her.” Embrace Julia. The more sincerely your relationship becomes, the better I will be about you. But remaining alone with her, act like I’m with you, or if I act like I’m not around you, that’s all I’m asking of you. ” Saint-Pre begins to comprehend the “sweet charm” of innocent friendships.
The longer Saint-Prème’s stay at the Wolmar’s house, the more respect he inflicts on his masters. Everything in the house breathes virtue; the family lives prosperously, but without luxury, the servants are respectful and devoted to their masters, the workers are zealous due to a special system of rewards, in short, no one “misses idleness and idleness” and “the pleasant connects with the useful.” The hosts take part in rural festivities, enter into all the details of the economy, lead a measured lifestyle and pay great attention to healthy eating.
Clara, who lost her husband a few years ago, having listened to her friend’s requests, moves to the Wolmar’s – Julia decided long ago to start raising her little daughter. At the same time, M. de Wolmar proposes Saint-Pre to become the tutor of his sons – a man must educate boys. After much emotional anguish, Saint-Pre agrees – he feels that he will be able to justify the trust he has shown. But before embarking on his new duties, he travels to Italy to Sir Edward. Bomston fell in love with the former courtesan and is going to marry her, thus refusing from brilliant views for the future. Saint-Pre, who has fulfilled high moral principles, rescues a friend from a fatal step, convincing the girl for the sake of his love for Sir Edward to reject his offer and go to the monastery. Duty and virtue triumph.
Wolmar praises the act of Saint-Pre, Julia is proud of her former lover and rejoices at the friendship that brings them together “as an unprecedented transformation of feelings.” “We dare to praise ourselves for the fact that we have the strength not to get out of the way,” she wrote Saint-Pre.
So, all the characters are waiting for a quiet and cloudless happiness, passions are banished away, my Lord Edward receives an invitation to settle in Claren with his friends. However, the paths of destiny are inscrutable. During the walk, Yulia’s younger son falls into the river, she rushes to his aid and pulls him out, but, having caught cold, falls ill and soon dies. In her last hour she writes Saint-Prêne that her death is the blessing of heaven, for “thus did she deliver us from terrible calamities” – who knows how things could have changed if they had once again lived under Saint-Pré roof. Julia confesses that the first feeling that became for her the meaning of life only took refuge in her heart: for the sake of duty she did everything that depended on her will, but in her heart she is not free, and if it belongs to Saint-Pre, this her torment, and not sin. “I thought I was afraid for you, but, of course, was afraid for herself. For many years I lived happily and virtuously. That’s enough. And what a joy for me to live now? Let the sky take my life from me, I have nothing to regret about it, and my honor will be saved. “” At the cost of life I buy the right to love you with eternal love, in which there is no sin, and the right to say one last time: “I love you.”
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