Sentimental Education Society and Class Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

Then, anxious to become acquainted at last with that vague entity, glittering and indefinable, which is known as "society," he sent a note to the Dambreuses to know whether he might be at liberty to call upon them. (1.8.3)

Here we see Frederick makes his first push to be accepted by the Dambreuses. It takes him a while to get his whole act together, but he finally makes contact.

Quote #5

Sénécal had been visited by men in blouses—all patriots, all workmen, all honest fellows, but at the same time men whose society seemed distasteful to the advocate. (1.8.98)

Oh, vocab lesson! Society can also mean company—as in this case. And here we get a glimpse of Sénécal's compatriots, a hardcore bunch that on the other side of the spectrum from Frederick and his crew.

Quote #6

[Sénécal] constructed an ideal of virtuous democracy, with the double aspect of a farm in which the landlord was to receive a share of the produce, and a spinning-mill, a sort of American Lacedæmon, in which the individual would only exist for the benefit of society (1.8.99)

Sénécal's ideal society: a socialist environment that doesn't have the kind of hierarchy involved in a monarchy. Instead of a dog-eat-dog world, everyone would take care of each other. As history tells us, though, it's not always that easy.