The Age of Reason (Penguin Modern Classics)

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It’s at once deeply intellectual but also crude and insulting, a dithering Parisian university lecturer bumbling about attempting to solve an issue he’s created. Back in the day, educated people agonised about how to find meaning in a world stripped bare of religion and the old certainties, and threatened by Nazism and totalitarianism. The story revolves around Mathieu in this philosophical background and brings to fore his existential struggles along with those of the characters linked directly or remotely to his life. It’s an extensive discussion they have that sees much toing and froing of minds, but Delarue is clearly wise to Daniel’s behaviour and rejects his proposal. Once Sarah leaves, the two argue, with the young student finally breaching the kiss Delarue had forced upon her.

By now, even the reader is getting a bit exasperated by Delarue’s behaviour, is he a coward or a pretentious buffoon? Boris like all the other characters doesn’t appear to have a job and is oppressed by his own ‘freedom’ – which some among us might relabel his lack of a job, a career or any responsibilities. I’m tempted to describe it as a melodrama, but this does it a disservice as all of the events which occur feel so real.you condemn capitalist society, and yet you are an official in that society; you display an abstract sympathy with Communists, but you take care not to commit yourself, you have never voted. This sense of duty is in stealing a book, although he wonders if he’s offended Sereno with his rejection. The Age of Reason only concerns a handful of days, I should point out, during which time personal freedom is the main theme established. All around him, and in full force, there were his anxieties of the day before, his love for Ivich, Marcelle’s pregnancy, money, and then, in the centre, a blind spot—death.

Either way, the dozen or so ‘freedom’ sections feel like plasters strapped onto the groaning seething mass of disgust, appalled descriptions of physical functions and an apparently never-ending series of ways for the characters to feel disgusted and revolted by each other. Chapter one begins the trilogy, with Mathieu walking down the Rue Vercingetorix before he’s stopped by a half-drunk man (presumably homeless) eager to fuel his drinking further. As he retrieves Boris’ letters, he also notes a large amount of francs that will easily cover Marcelle’s abortion—he doesn’t take the money. But the chief merit of the book lies in the fact that Sartre has put his story ahead of his theme, and whatever abstract ideas of Existentialism he has expressed, he has converted them into the concrete form of dramatic situation. He must run, he must get away as far as possible, immerse himself in noise and light, in a throng of people, he must become a man among his fellows, and feel the eyes of other men upon him.Subsequent novels in the Road to Freedom have little to do with this theme, but what Sartre did is lay bare the concerns of his central characters whilst World War II loomed casually on the horizon. If the book does not rise to the stature of a great, or even a very good, novel, it at least does not try to show a great panorama of society, and fail. When he does nothing of the sort but instead proudly brandishes the money for the abortion, Marcelle’s face falls, she is ashen, she says, ‘So that’s what you think of me’. And yet he would not have liked to be good-looking – she was never more alone than when confronted with something to admire. The two share a drink in Mathieu’s flat and, during this encounter, it becomes apparent he has proposed to Marcelle and she has accepted.

This makes Delarue laugh, but it’s apparent it’s the only way to get the money from the conniving fiend. Boris scratched his head in perplexity, and wondered what was the origin of these destructive impulses which gripped him from time to time.

The same goes with a totalitarian dictatorship were we will self-censure ourselves for fear that if we do not we may bring the wrath of the state upon us. If read as a standalone novel, the Age of Reason is a brilliant drama played out over a handful of days. As to freedom, there was no sense in speculating on its nature, because in that case one was then no longer free. Boris then unexpectedly appears outside the cafe where they’re recuperating and, smiling crazily whilst swaying to and fro, staggers towards them and announces: “Lola is dead”.

On and on it goes, as Mathieu reëvaluates his life, his situation, and his relationship with Marcelle.

All he need do is take 4,000 and he will have the fee for the high class abortion and ensure Marcelle’s well-being.