Reading Proust - A Running Commentary

 Having examined Marcel's relationship with Gilberte, I would now like to explore the Swanns' home and social life, which is the other main theme in this section. Before doing that, however, it is necessary to consider the beginning of the section, which opens with Marcel's parents having to dinner an old ambassador, the Marquis de Norpois, who is working with Marcel's father. Prior to the visit, his parents had been pondering the question of whom else to invite and had decided against Swann, who Marcel's father thought had, since his marriage to Odette, become a vulgarian who was forever name-dropping. Meanwhile, on M de Norpois' previous recommendation, Marcel had been earlier that day to see the great actress Berma but when faced with the reality, as we should expect by now, had been disappointed. He remains, however, a devotee of the great author Bergotte. It is an iconoclastic evening for Marcel, for M de Norpois speaks highly of Mme Swann, disparages Bergo...