Against the Grain · Theme
Illness and Neurosis
How Against the Grain develops Illness and Neurosis.
The narrative is punctuated by Des Esseintes' physical and psychological ailments—anaemia, dyspepsia, hallucinations, and nervous exhaustion—which reflect the fin-de-siècle fascination with the interplay between body, mind, and decadent lifestyle.
Where it surfaces
- Notice
Des Esseintes suffers from chronic nervous ailments, scrofula, and physical exhaustion, which drive his need for a quiet, controlled environment.
- Chapter V
Redon's drawings evoke Des Esseintes' memories of typhoid fever and nightmares, linking art to his nervous condition.
- VII
The chapter details Des Esseintes' nervous cough, stomach issues, and other physical symptoms, highlighting the theme of neurosis and physical decline.
- Chapter VIII
The chapter is dominated by Des Esseintes' obsession with syphilis as an inexhaustible hereditary malady, and his nightmare vividly depicts his neurotic fear of the disease.
- The Perfume Experiment
Des Esseintes' olfactory hallucinations are a manifestation of his nervous disorder, driving his obsessive experimentation with perfumes.
- Chapter XI
Des Esseintes' nervous collapse and the doctor's inability to diagnose him underscore the theme of neurosis and the fragility of his mental state.
- Chapter XIII
The chapter vividly describes Des Esseintes' physical and nervous collapse under the heat, including nausea, optical delusions, and prostration, highlighting his fragile health.
- XV
Des Esseintes experiences a severe physical and mental decline, with hallucinations, fevers, and digestive issues dominating the chapter.