Musique, temps et thérapie dans Moderato cantabile de Marguerite Duras

The aim of this dissertation is to carry out a textual analysis of Moderato cantabile by Marguerite Duras to understand the function of the music from a narrative point of view. Our method has been that of a thematic reading based on the function of music in constructing time and the link to psychotherapy. Our hypothesis is that the musical implications have influenced the narrative format and that the dialogue, albeit uncertain and quite simple, implies something healing like a psychoanalytic cure. It must be recognised that music had a huge impact on Duras’ work. In this context, her writing has been examined in several scientific sources. Our study can hopefully help to understand the musical connection by comparing the harmony and composition of the sonatina form with the structure of the story and by reading “between the lines” to explore whether there might be a hidden theme of psychotherapy. Such a theme might be consistent with key changes and tempo variations like those in a musical score; all this guided by the teachings of the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.