Accounts Quote by Andre Gide
“I would like the events never to be told directly by the author, but rather to be introduced (and several times, from various angles) by those among the characters on whom they will have had any effect. I would like those events, in the account they will make of them, to appear slightly distorted; a kind of interest stems, for the reader, from the simple fact that he should need to restore. The story requires his collaboration in order to properly take shape.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Immoralist, 1902
Stories should be revealed through characters’ perspectives, creating distortion that forces readers to piece together truth.
In simple terms: Let characters tell the story, not the author directly.
Key Takeaway
Engage readers by making them active participants.
Themes
narrative technique
reader involvement
subjectivity
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- creative workshops
- film script development
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
literary theory
storytelling
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this method affect your reading experience?
- What benefits arise from reader reconstruction?
A Different Perspective
Distorted narratives can confuse rather than enlighten.
