The Princess of Clèves

Structure: 1 year (1559). 5 Bks:

I. Book I: Exposition and complication

A. Background: The Brilliant Court of Henry II.

1. Mme de Chartres' upbringing of her daughter (76) differs from

2. The intrigues of Court-Power, ambition, love and marriage: a Major Thesis (78).

3. Mme de Chartres' machinations to marry her daughter into the ruling families come to naught (79-80). First example.

B. The marriage of Mlle de Clèves: The beginning of the tragedy; she does not love him (81-82).

C. Immediately, she meets M de Nemours (83).

D. First insert: moral story on passion and power (Diane de Potier's power over Henry II): Main theme stated by Mme de Chartres (85)—Appearance and Reality.

E. Mother's dying speech: Mme de Clèves is on "the edge of a precipice" (93).

II. Book II: Rising Action

A. Second insert and morally illustrative tale: M de C's story of Sancerre and Mme de Tournon (94-99). Theme of appearance and reality carried over on (98).

B. Third insert: Q.E.I. and Henry VIII, a passion that led to a revolution in the church (105-06).

III. Book III: Conflict

A. The lost love letter reveals Mm de C's love; again appearance and reality (110-11). It is the Vidame de Chartres' letter.

B. Fourth insert: the Vidame de Chartres' story (113-16). He is the Queen's lover.

IV. Book IV: Minor climax

A. Conclusion of the Vidame's story (117); the plot to deceive the Queen goes awry (122). This causes or sets up

B. The minor climax: Mme de C. reveals her love to M de C. (125-26) and M de Nemours "overhears" it (again secrecy).

1. The Confession (125).

2. M de Nemours tells the Vidame his story as a "secret," but it gets out (127).

C. The mental anguish caused by this situation:

1. M de C's (127-29).

2. Mme de C's (135).

3. M de Nemours (135).

D. The Tournament: the king dies (137-39).

V. BooK V: Major climax and Denouement

A. M de Clèves confronts his wife; he can no longer control his jealousy (141-42).

B. The scene at the country house (144): M de Nemours sees Mme de Clèves’ admiring his picture; M de C's man "sees" M de Nemours going to the house at night.

1. M de N's agony(145-47).

2. M de C falls into a fever at the news and dies (148-50).

3. Mme de Clèves assumes a "rigid" virtue (152).

C. Climax: the lovers meet and talk. Mme de Clèves rejects M de Nemours (153-57).

D. Denouement: Mme de Clèves lives in a convent.