Three Novellas, or "What Happened?"
Understanding the Novella Genre
The essence of the novella revolves around the question: "What happened? Whatever could have happened?" In contrast, tales pose a different central question that focuses on the future: "What is going to happen?" Novels encompass elements from both novellas and tales, portraying a continuous present that evolves over time. The detective novel merges these concepts, often revolving around a core event, such as a murder or theft, that is revealed throughout the narrative.
Temporal Dimensions
A distinct difference exists in how time is approached: the novella focuses on what has happened—often remaining a secret and intertwining the present with a sense of the past—whereas the tale paints events with future orientation, drawing the reader’s expectation forward. This approach to time aligns with Husserl’s ideas of retention and protention, which blur the boundaries between past, present, and future.
Narrative Examples
Maupassant’s tale, "Une ruse," explores the immediate expectations of action and resolution. Conversely, Barbey d'Aurevilly’s novella, "Le rideau cramoisi," raises questions surrounding the aftermath of an unknown event and its implications. Open-ended conclusions require detailed attention and meticulous storytelling, highlighting the area of unknown versus dramatic tension within the narrative.
The Forms of Secret and Discovery
In the novella, secrecy is linked to what is unknowable, often signifying deeper existential inquiries rather than mere plot points. Conversely, the tale emphasizes discovery, focusing on uncovering truths or secrets actively. Both genres explore postures and body language connected to narrative revelations: the novella engages with bodily reactions and hints of sexual or social dynamics, while the tale typically unfolds events with predictability.
Exemplary Novella: "In the Cage" by Henry James
In this novella, the plot introduces a telegrapher who leads a segmented, calculated life dictated by routine telegrams. The young woman represents a rigid line of segmentarity; her life is tightly controlled and calculated. However, contrast arises with the secret lives unveiled through unpredictable telegrams, framing her world in terms of supple flows rather than rigid lines. The complexities of her relationships reveal a deeper connection to herself and society, transcending the rigid segments of her life.
The Complexity of Secrets
Exploring molecular relationships reveals nuanced dynamics beyond surface interactions, indicating broader, subcutaneous dynamics of love, society, and individual lives. The micropolitics of conversations oscillate between fixed identities and fluid interactions, which defy easy categorization.
Exploring Fitzgerald's Works
In Fitzgerald’s second novella, "The Crack-Up," he frequently revisits the question of "What happened?" Discussing micro-cracks and major breaking points stemming from life events and choices, he introduces the Third Line Concept, which purports a clean break as a transformative, non-reversible moment in life. Fitzgerald presents intriguing contradictions within relationships that impact personal well-being and identity.
Fleutiaux’s Third Novella: "The Story of the Abyss and the Spyglass"
This novella conceptualizes different segments and lines of vision. Near-seers perceive rigid segments and binary distinctions within societal structures, while far-seers are capable of noting subtle movements amidst the chaos of life, anticipating future developments from these complex micro-dynamics.
Lines of Flight
The interplay of segmentarity, additional segments, and lines of flight constructs individual and collective identities. Schizoanalysis emerges as a method exploring desire, emphasizing the political and practical aspects intertwined with social dynamics. This framework helps detect the challenges in navigating one’s lines, advocating for creating and adapting individual paths through life experiences.
Conclusion: Lines and Life
In conclusion, it is essential to reflect on how linearity in lives manifests through personal and societal narratives. Each individual crafts a unique narrative shaped by the interplay of rigid boundaries, soft transitions, and liberatory movements, all directed toward exploring the fundamental questions of being and identity.
