Swann's Way
The narrator and protagonist, reflecting on his childhood and early impressions.
Translator's Dedication
Implied as the subject of the translation and the reflective voice behind the dedication.
Overture
The narrator describes his childhood experiences of sleep, waking, and the magic lantern.
Combray
The narrator recalls his childhood walks in Combray and his observations of Mlle. Vinteuil.
Swann in Love
The narrator reflects on Swann's experiences, drawing parallels to his own childhood memories.
Place-Names: The Name
The narrator recounts his obsessive love for Gilberte, his anticipation of seeing her, and his disappointment when reality fails to match his dreams.
Volume II: Within a Budding Grove
The narrator reflects on his youthful experiences and emotional development.
Madame Swann at Home
The narrator reflects on his love for Gilberte and his interactions with Swann, experiencing a moment of sensory pleasure in a lavatory that temporarily relieves his anxieties.
Place-Names: The Place
The narrator reflects on his indifference to Gilberte, his journey to Balbec with his grandmother, and his feelings about separation from his mother.
Place-Names: The Place (Continued)
The narrator observes Françoise's social confusions and reflects on his own habits at the Balbec hotel.
Seascape, with Frieze of Girls
The narrator is alone at Balbec, observing a group of young girls and reflecting on his desires and artistic perceptions.
The Guermantes Way
The narrator is the central consciousness, obsessed with the Duchesse de Guermantes and navigating the complexities of aristocratic society.
I
Observes social hierarchies and reflects on his own romantic yearnings, particularly for Mme. de Guermantes and unknown girls in the street.
I
The narrator reflects on his grandmother's illness, his interactions with Bergotte, and his feelings of isolation as he grapples with her declining health.
II
Reflects on his youthful desires and the illusion of costume; plans a dinner with Mme. de Stermaria; accompanies Albertine to order food; studies Saint-Loup's features; feels a misunderstanding with Mme. de Guermantes.
Cities of the Plain
The narrator observes and reflects on the social dynamics and personal relationships around him, particularly those involving Charlus and Albertine.
Prologue
The narrator observes the encounter between Charlus and Jupien from a hidden vantage point, reflecting on the nature of inversion.
The Heart's Intermissions
The narrator experiences a profound involuntary memory of his grandmother, realizing the depth of his grief and the anachronism between facts and feelings.
II
Reflects on his grandmother's death and his waning grief; experiences renewed desire for Albertine; observes the sea with a new perspective; visits the maids Céleste and Marie.
II (Continued)
Observes Charlus's artistic talents and nervous defects; reflects on the combination of physical blemish and spiritual gift; reconciles with Albertine after a quarrel.
III
The narrator reflects on his own tendency to pursue phantoms, particularly Albertine, and contrasts his inner life with the social world around him.
IV
The narrator experiences a devastating revelation about Albertine's sexuality, leading to intense jealousy and suffering.
The Captive
The narrator, consumed by jealousy and the need to control Albertine, reflects on the nature of love and possession.
Life with Albertine
Reflects on his love for Albertine, his jealousy, and his artistic ambitions; compares his current feelings to past experiences with Gilberte and his mother.
II: The Verdurins Quarrel with M. de Charlus
Reflects on Swann's death and his unfulfilled promise to Gilberte; visits the Verdurins; feels possessive attachment to Albertine; encounters Morel in distress.
II (Continued)
Reflects on the music's aesthetic revelation, linking it to his love for Albertine and his artistic vocation.
Flight of Albertine
The narrator is consumed by jealousy and suspicion, analyzing Albertine's words and actions for signs of infidelity, and ultimately faces her departure.
Volume VI: The Sweet Cheat Gone
The narrator is consumed by grief and reflection after Albertine's departure and death, questioning the reality of his love and the nature of memory.
I: Grief and Oblivion
The narrator is consumed by grief and anxiety after Albertine's departure, reflecting on the nature of love and loss.
II: Mademoiselle de Forcheville
The narrator experiences a brief, intense infatuation with a girl he mistakes for Mlle. d'Éporcheville, later revealed to be Mlle. de Forcheville (Gilberte Swann). He reflects on his desire, his visit to Mme. de Guermantes, and his literary ambitions.
Venice
The narrator is in Venice with his mother, experiencing impressions that recall Combray. He is torn between the desire to stay and the need to leave, ultimately failing to join his mother on the train.
