The Present State of My Spirit
A Proust Questionnaire Sequence
Angie Estes
Sometime during 1889 or 1890, Marcel Proust responded to a
questionnaire that was popular in France at the time. Proust titled
his responses, “Marcel Proust par lui-même” [Marcel Proust by
himself]. Some of the topics he responded to are also the titles of
the following poems:
État present de mon esprit: The present state of my spirit
Ma devise: My motto
Le principal trait de mon caractère: The principal trait of my
character
Le don de la nature que je voudrais avoir: The natural talent I
would like to have
Ce que je voudrais être: What I would like to be
Comment j’aimerais mourir: How I would like to die
La fleur que j’aime: The flower I love
Mon occupation préférée: My favorite occupation
Le pays où je désirerais vivre: The country where I would like to live
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