Bonjour Tristesse

In Bonjour Tristesse, the sea represents the inevitability of consequence. If the pine wood that lies adjacent to the villa represents Cécile’s belief that she can indulge in life’s pleasures and avoid taking responsibility for the potential consequences of her behavior indefinitely, then the sea drives home the self-delusional nature of this belief. Throughout the book, Cécile behaves poorly with no regard for how her actions will affect others. She selfishly conspires to break up Anne and Raymond simply because Cécile does not want her life to change. Not only does she delude herself into thinking that her behavior is justified, but she also remains convinced that it remains within her power to halt the plan at any point, regardless of how far the plan has gone or many other people are involved in it. The sea, with its rhythmically pulsing waves, acts as a sobering reminder of Cécile’s overconfidence. Though she continues to think she can act however she pleases and never pay the price for her short-sighted, cruel, and manipulative behavior, Anne’s tragic death at the story’s climax—and the grief, shame, and overwhelming sorrow that Cécile must live with in the aftermath—shows how misguided Cécile has been all along. In truth, Cécile is no more able to control the potential consequences of her actions than she can stop the incessant, rhythmic pulsing of the waves that crash against the shore.