Manon Lescaut (written by Abbè Prèvost)

Essay: Compose a clear thesis of your own choosing and write a paper of 300 to 500 words on Manon Lescaut. Make your own argument and defend it through analysis of particular scenes, characters, or literary elements in the novel.

Be sure to focus on and closely read precise features of the language used. See both the Guidelines on Analytical Papers above and also the Literary Resources page for further instruction on how to construct a good argument.

Manon Lescaut was written by Abbè Prèvost during the 18th century  in France.
The 18th century was a period of social and political upheaval better known as The French Revolution"

The chevalier Des Grieux and Manon Lescaut lived in this period, and both represents the revolution which was intended to replace God for a better society and a new concept of love not necessarily between man and woman.

In brief the ideal was to consider love as a fundamental ideal at the apex of the humanity, this imply the creation is a disconnection between traditional values and the new.
This means that we will have a material world and will make love for pleasure without considering the dogma of the procreation.

In this new sexual morality the woman is not more considered as a sexual obect but at the same level of the man.

If we accept this assumption, we must be conscious that one day our passions and sexual desires will expire, and then?

The central theme of this short novel is try to understand if our characters are able to love each other without money only with a pure love, this situation will determine the difference between love and infatuation.

The result is that both are selfish beings where Manon is a sneaky forgiving every infedelity of Grieux not for love but mainly for maintaining her status quo and the chevalier is trapped in his male pride, this the DNA of the European society.
Another illusion for our lovers is when they will reach the new world, the United States of America.
They believed that in New Orleans was a perfect and peaceful environment for their love due to an absence of class differences.


Unfortunately for them the American experience was negative they believed that in the new world was better than the European Society but it was a pure and simple illusion.

It seems that there is a divine design were every human being has a destiny and it is impossible to react and if he or she will break the rules will be punished
.
In conclusion the passion is considered has a prison of our ego we must escape we must see the things at 360° without prejudices and fear of being judged by the society, this mean that love is the glue of an imperfect humanity.
'Why did he love her? Curious fool, be still! is human love the fruit of human will?' Byron