Social conditioning and class divisions are very much apparent in the novel La Place by Annie Ernaux. The attitude Ernaux adopts towards them is less apparent; it tends to shift throughout the novel as the author explores her memories and draws on the emotions these memories arouse. At times she seems to see the social and class divisions that now set her apart from her father as positive forces that are a natural course of life - she acknowledges she has been well cared for by this man and as a result she can move on to a better, more fulfilled life. At other times, however, she sees the same issues as thoroughly divisive forces that separate her from her 'roots', her blood, her true self and this ambivalence can be seen throughout the novel.
There are clear arguments that support the notion of La Place portraying a pessimistic view of class and social conditioning. The first of these comes in the form of Ernaux' personal views regarding the shift in her relationship with her father, which she sees primarily as class-driven. Ernaux identifies her adolescence as the period during which the in the relationship first developed. This is a normal stage in a young person's life; as an individual matures, that individual's relationships with others must grow as well. Yet at times Ernaux seems to view this rift as an assault upon the relationship, a form of damage which she solidly connects. She says, 'Une distance de classe, mais particulière, qui n'a pas de nom. Comme de l'amour séparé' . The change that comes about seems to her a form of irreparable damage, a broken love. The lack of hope inherent in the notion of separateness lends a clear sense of pessimism to the novel. Whilst separation may lead to growth and further development; it may also lead to a wider and wider gap between two individuals whose relationship with each other has become different and uncertain and in this instance, Ernaux views it with a sense of sadness and loss.
Furthermore, Ernaux tends to view her father's upward mobility in a negative light. Her own ascent in the social hierarchy seems normal and expected and she considers herself to have been properly schooled and therefore has the appropriate tools to navigate comfortably in different settings. Her father, however, has only moved up in a superficial sense - he may have risen above the ranks of the common working man, but he has also moved outside of a comfort zone and into what is for him uncharted territory. Ernaux makes several references to her father's inadequacy. She quotes from one of the school books he used as a child to indicate the kind of society he grew up in. 'Aprendre à toujours étre heureux de notre sort' (p. 61). This is one of the lessons he was taught, she explains to the reader and beliefs like this are part of the person he grew up to be, a person very different from the modern adult she herself is. She also comments frequently on his lack of confidence in speech, particularly in the presence of individuals of higher class. Afraid of using the wrong word or improper grammar, he preferred to remain silent. In this way, he would not reveal his true origins. He was always conscious of the ways in which he presented himself to the world, constantly vigilant lest he appear 'moins bien que les autres' (p. 74). In small ways like this, he felt he was able to hide certain truths about himself and his past. In fact, he carefully erases all evidence of his former life, or that of his ancestors, including the crude language of his own parents: 'Pour mon père le patois était quelque chose de vieux et de laid, un signe d'inférité', writes Ernaux. 'Il était fier d'avoir pu s'en débarasser en partie, même si son français n' était pas bon, c' était du français' (p. 77). The tone at this point suggests Ernaux views this form of class division, this need to distance oneself from anything other than the ‘true’ French of the modern age and her father’s lack of regard for something which she considers he should be proud of, as a very negative force and in this way she presents a far from glowing view of social conditioning.
However it would be wrong to say that this is a memoir founded solely on criticism of class division. Such differences may also be seen in a positive light, one in which the author realistically acknowledges the sadness that change may bring with it, whilst at the same time actively embracing that change. To understand this, one must also consider the good qualities that Ernaux' father possesses. There are occasions on which her father does noble and gracious things, particularly in times of stress during turbulent political times in French history. For example, he does not join the ranks of those who would take advantage of the political climate to further his own economic gain. The reverses brought about in French society after the start of World War II might have turned some into opportunists, but, as Ernaux demonstrates through specific example, her father was quite the opposite: 'Il fut considéré dans la Vallé comme le héros du ravitaillement. Non pas choix, mais nécessité. Ultérieurement, certitude d'avoir joué un rôle, d'avoir vécu vraiment en ces années-là' (p. 71). This grace during periods of pressure and poverty is seen by the author as a noble quality, one which could be said to transcend class divisions and defy social conditioning.
Her father's inherent goodness is evident in many small acts throughout the book, and this manages to ultimately override the pessimism. Proof of this can be found later in the memoir, when Ernaux comes full circle and embraces certain aspects of her past that she had formerly rejected. She explains: 'J'ai fini de mettre au jour l'héritage que j'ai dû déposer au seuil du monde bourgeois et cultivé quand j'y suis entrée (p. 102). This acceptance of her past is marked by a sense of humility, as well as a sense of pride. This pride manages to obliterate the pessimism, and thus leave the reader with a sense of optimism.
To conclude, some may consider the overriding emphasis put on the themes of class division and social conditioning to reveal a sense of pessimism on the part of the writer, and there is evidence to support that view. The overwhelming ambiance of the memoir, however, seems to lean toward a more optimistic view where the writer grows to accept, even to embrace, all parts of her heritage, both good and bad. This, in the end, leads to the final assessment that Ernaux' novel presents a positive world view.
