# II explained — In Search of Lost Time

> Chapter companion for In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust.

## What happens

The narrator reflects on his desire to dine with Mme. de Stermaria, using the Bois and the Swans' Island as a substitute for Brittany. Albertine visits and accompanies him to order dinner, revealing the lingering social ties from their past. The chapter contrasts the warmth of Jewish families with the sereness of the aristocracy, praises Saint-Loup's French grace, and explores the narrator's disillusionment with Mme. de Guermantes, whose mind excludes his own thoughts. A dinner conversation includes M. de Bréauté's remarks on Chinese delicacies.

## Themes in this chapter

### Desire and Illusion

The narrator uses costume and setting to create an illusion of Brittany, acknowledging that reality escapes and only deliberate illusion remains.

### Social Class and Snobbery

Contrasts the warmth of Jewish families with the sereness of aristocrats; M. de Bréauté's hatred of snobs is a derivative of his own snobbishness.

### Art and Perception

The narrator compares Saint-Loup's features to the stone angels of Saint-André-des-Champs, seeing inward perfection expressed outwardly.

## Character check-ins

### Marcel

Reflects on his youthful desires and the illusion of costume; plans a dinner with Mme. de Stermaria; accompanies Albertine to order food; studies Saint-Loup's features; feels a misunderstanding with Mme. de Guermantes.

### Albertine Simonet

Visits the narrator unexpectedly; agrees to help order dinner; represents past love and social ties.

### Robert de Saint-Loup

Praised for his openness of mind and heart; his features are compared to the stone angels of Saint-André-des-Champs; introduces the Prince de Foix.

### Duchesse de Guermantes

Her mind is described as pure but limited, excluding the narrator's thoughts; she embodies a rustic survival from Guermantes.

### Françoise

Announces Albertine's visit to the narrator.

### M. de Bréauté

Discusses Chinese delicacies at dinner; known for his intellectual reputation and hatred of snobs.

## Key lines

> But by dint of allowing it to escape we end by noticing that, after all those vain endeavours which have led to nothing, something solid subsists, which is what we have been seeking.

After many failed attempts, we realize that what we were truly seeking has been there all along.

_Reflects the narrator's realization about desire and reality._

> Among the Jews especially there were few whose parents and kinsfolk had not a warmth of heart, a breadth of mind in comparison with which Saint-Loup’s mother and the Duc de Guermantes cut the poorest of figures by their sereness...

Jewish families often showed more warmth and generosity than the cold, superficial aristocracy.

_Highlights the theme of social class and snobbery._

> I studied Saint-Loup’s features and said to myself that it is a thing to be glad of when there is no lack of bodily grace to prepare one for the graces within...

Saint-Loup's physical grace reflects his inner virtues, a distinctly French quality.

_Connects physical appearance to moral character._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/in_search_of_lost_time_se/chapters/part-ii-ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/in_search_of_lost_time_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/in_search_of_lost_time_se/chapters