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Marie-Claire Blais Mad Shadows

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Marie-Claire Blais’ book, Mad Shadows is a controversial story that would lead the way for many more. It explores the dissolution of a family because of the mother’s love for vanity. The conclusion of each character’s lives was a direct consequence of their actions. The 3 main characters: Louise, Isabelle-Marie, and Patrice exemplify why the quote “Whether our life has been a triumph or a tragedy can only be judged at its very end.” can relate to Mad Shadows.
Louise exemplifies this quote in her life because she was the source of the problem. As the mother, she plays a major role in her children’s lives. In the novella, Louise is characterized as someone who is superficial and vain. She believed that beauty was more important than anything …show more content…

In the book, he is often compared to the Greek god, Adonis. He depends mainly on his mother’s attention that feeds into his narcissism. Louise ignores his negative aspects including his mental state. The only thing he has is his beauty so much so that he spends a lot of his time near the lake:
“When he reached the lake Patrice waited for the water to bring him peace. He looked at his reflection and then rose, very slowly, holding out his arms as though trying to drink of his own beauty, drop by drop until there was no more. He was alone and magnificent, as he stood ready to leap into the setting sun." (Blais 27)
Ultimately when his sister takes his beauty away by burning his face, Louise, who was now repulsed by his hideous looks, sends Patrice to an asylum for the insane. However, he escapes shortly afterward and ends up drowning himself when he sees his hideous reflection in the lake. Patrice’s tragic death is the reflections of the shallowness of his life. One where he was only valued because of his beauty, the most shallow of human traits. It is almost ironic how he dies in the very lake that he enjoyed so much when he saw his reflection. Now he only saw hideousness and

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