While reading through the end of the novel I wondered if David had really saw a change in heart as he had seen the eventual change in his status with in the social sphere that had been created for him. For the most part his power, his leverage and control of his social sphere has been stripped from him. So why does he write? What is this Opera really other than a manifesto of his still lingering beliefes.
Poets often write about the mortality of the human soul, and how this beauty that they lust after will soon wither away, and like wise the enchanment of it. However, the immoratlity is in the words. David’s ability to woe and slither into the arms of unprotected young women if finite, over. In a way his firing and public humilation has further castrated him as a grown man, and can no longer exert his sexual power. In this way Althussure would say that he has lost that Repressive State Apparatuse, but as an intellectual he will always be apart of the ISA.
Maybe his living power is over but his words if finished will last forever, immortal reppression. Simultaneously, Lord Byron, David’s alter ego is tormenting his Countess even from the grave with his tauting letters of love, lust, and mochery. It was kind of amusing that David couldn’t create a true picture of the Countess while Byron was alive, because there would be an exchange between them. He would have to create a true depiction of Byron through the Countess in order to make the story line complete. However, with Byron dead he is allowed to fashion the Countess in the image he sees fit, giving the control to Byron’s letters which she morns.
I feel as though David has not changed but he has accepted his loss, for the most part. But like the ISA it is repressive through time and conditioning. He has already to some extent sown his seed into society, and this Opera will be his finial act.
I agree with you here. I just don’t think that David has learned much of anything, despite what he has gone through it this novel. I think that the last line of the novel is proof that he has accepted what has happened. I just don’t think that even though he has accepted his loss, he will better himself. I wish that there were a part two to this and then all of these questions would be answered!!