Duras Day II

"If I were you I'd let it go on growing, let its shadow grow a little every year on the walls of the room that is called--wrongly, I believe--yours." (pg87)

Chauvin says this to Anne when they are discussing the tree outside of her bedroom. With this sentence he shows that he understands Anne's feelings of displacement and restlessness. He knows what she is feeling, whether she has admitted it to herself yet or not. He knows that she does not feel at home in the house with her husband and that she doesn't truly want to be there. That's why he says the tree doesn't matter because it's not really where she's meant to be.

"I don't know any more than you do. Talk to me." (pg 87)

Chauvin repeats this phrase or something along the lines of it several times during their conversation. It is usually right after Anne has asked him a question about the couple involved in the murder. He says he doesn't know anymore than she does yet he creates answers which are completely made up, merely conjecture. Anne is interested in the circumstances of the murder and the emotions the couple experienced to bring them to that point. But Chauvin is more interested in hearing Anne talk about herself and her house, which he is very familiar with. At times it seems like the conversation about the murder is just an excuse for them to meet and talk.

"The night, fatigue, and childhood made him cling to her, his mother, and they walked on together." (pg 91)

This quote shows the boy as a child, reliant on his mother. However throughout the story, Anne does not assume a very maternal position. She undoubtedly loves her son, but she treats him more as a companion than a son. She also says that she wishes he were grown up already, and I think that is because of how she already treats him like an adult at times. In fact, there are several instances where the boy seems to assume the role of parent more than Anne does. When she is in the bar, the boy returns several times to check that she is still there and she doesn't pay any attention to him. The boy is more protective of her than she seems to be of him.