Bonjour Tristesse

At the heart of Bonjour Tristesse lies a deep sense of existential ennui—a restlessness born from too much ease. Cécile, Raymond, and their social circle are affluent, idle, and emotionally undisciplined. Their summer on the French Riviera, though outwardly leisurely and luxurious, becomes a setting in which boredom and moral detachment lead to emotional harm and grief. The novel explores how a life driven by pleasure and impulse, without introspection or responsibility, fosters aimlessness and destructive behavior. 

Cécile, in particular, embodies this sense of disconnection. Though intelligent and perceptive, she lacks a clear moral framework. She reflects on her pursuit of pleasure, thinking: “My love of pleasure seems to be the only coherent side of my character. Perhaps it is because I have not read enough?” (17). This confession frames her self-awareness as superficial—it is a clever remark rather than a catalyst for change. Cécile’s actions throughout the novel stem not from cruelty or malicious intent but from a passive submission to desire and mood. She manipulates others simply because she is bored and fears the stability Anne represents. She admits: “I feared boredom and tranquility more than anything” (113), associating it with emotional confinement.