Mystical Artifacts and the Looming Threat of Incorporation
Welcome to our monthly literature revisits, folks! This month, we're diving into Quebec literature, reevaluating old and recent works in the light of today's events. No matter if it's a rediscovery, rereading, or a fresh perspective - it's all up to you. Join us in this exciting collaborative initiative by the Quebec Academy of Letters and our beloved site.
Recently, the renewed ambitions of Donald Trump have sparked an old fear among Quebec writers: the dread of assimilation. While we can thank the American President for not resorting to force in achieving his goals, his slow "economic asphyxiation" plan to transform Canada into the 51st state is very much real and can be traced back in several classic Quebec literature pieces.
Let's get a little historical for a moment. Remember the "Great Hemorrhage"? Between the American Civil War's end and the Great Depression, nearly a million French-speaking individuals exiled themselves to New England for economic reasons. The farming community led the way, followed by families from diverse backgrounds who settled in cities such as Lowell (Jack Kerouac's birthplace) or Manchester. By 1900, around 275,000 French Canadians lived in Massachusetts, and 76,000 had made a new life in New Hampshire.
This massive migration was opposed by the clergy, who tried to repatriate Catholics lured by the "American dream." At the turn of the century, regional literature (also known as "terroir" literature) lent its voice to the Church: novels that are now forgotten, like Restons chez nous (1908) by Damase Potvin, or better-known narratives such as Maria Chapdelaine (1913) by Louis Hémon, evoked the temptation of exile, whether close or remote. Trente Arpents, by Ringuet, however, has proven to be the most enduring work among those haunted by the specter of assimilation.
Unraveling the Mysteries of "Trente arpents"
Philippe Panneton, also known as Éva Ringuet, penned the novel Trente arpents in 1936. Born in Trois-Rivières to a bourgeois family, he was a doctor by profession and a writer at heart. After teaching at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montreal, he became a diplomat at the Canadian embassy in Portugal, where he passed away in 1960.
Ringuet's legacy includes three novels, several pastiches, naturalistic tales, and essays. Trente arpents, the book most associated with Ringuet, is our focus today. The narrative begins at the dawn of the 20th century and unfolds near the village of Saint-Jacques, embodying the "French-Canadian parish." Set against the backdrop of the Laurentian countryside, the tale first portrays the ancestral lands of the Moisans family.
Euchariste Moisan and his wife Alphonsine live a simple life, content with their thirty arpents of land. Their second son, Éphrem, however, feels restless, sensing that he will not inherit the "patriarchal land." American culture slowly permeates the village through instruments like baseball and English terms. Elphée Larivière, an emigrant who returns to Saint-Jacques, flaunts his wealth and American status, further enticing Éphrem to join the land of opportunity.
The Art of Irony
Ringuet masterfully weaves joual dialogues into the narration written in flawless French, creating a unique blend. The novel's dialogue, often imbued with irony, is one of its strong points. The narrative concludes with Euchariste leaving his land for Éphrem's transformed life in America, exemplifying the fear of assimilation and the lure of American life that Ringuet skillfully portrays.
"Trente arpents" transcends categorization, offering a nuanced exploration of rural Quebec's challenges during the early 20th century. Rooted in tradition, criticizing the church, and mocking assimilation, it serves as a testament to the complexities of societal dynamics during that time. By avoiding moral lessons and transcending dominant discourses, Ringuet crafted a truly remarkable novel.
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Don't miss these videos:
- The fear of assimilation in Quebec literature is evident in the works of authors like Ringuet, who wrote the novel "Trente arpents" in 1936.
- Before diving into "Trente arpents", one might find it interesting to read about its author, Philippe Panneton (also known as Éva Ringuet), who was a doctor by profession and a writer at heart.
- The novel "Trente arpents" offers a unique blend of joual dialogues, written in flawless French, and portrays the challenges faced by rural Quebec during the early 20th century.
- For those interested in understanding the historical context of "Trente arpents", reading about the "Great Hemorrhage" in the early 20th century, when nearly a million French-speaking individuals exiled themselves to New England for economic reasons, could provide valuable insight.
