description Strait Is the Gate Overview
Strait Is the Gate, published in 1909, is a French novel or novella by André Gide. Its central relationship follows the narrator Jérôme and his cousin Alissa, whose religious scruples and ideal of self-denial complicate their love. The work examines Protestant morality, asceticism, and the conflict between personal desire and duty, making it relevant to readers of philosophical fiction and to students of early twentieth-century French literature.
help Strait Is the Gate FAQ
What is the original French title of Strait Is the Gate?
The original title is La Porte étroite, and André Gide published it in 1909. The English title refers to the biblical image of the narrow gate and difficult path.
What is Strait Is the Gate about?
The story follows Jérôme and his cousin Alissa as religious ideals and emotional restraint prevent their love from becoming a conventional relationship. Alissa's sister Juliette also loves Jérôme, creating another layer of unfulfilled desire.
Who narrates Strait Is the Gate?
Jérôme serves as the principal narrator and presents much of the story as a recollection. The novel later incorporates Alissa's letters and diary, giving her perspective a separate voice.
How does Strait Is the Gate relate to Gide's The Immoralist?
Gide conceived Strait Is the Gate as a contrasting counterpart to The Immoralist, which was published in 1902. Instead of examining unchecked appetite, it examines the damage caused by excessive self-denial and religious duty.
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