Mourning in the mirror of psychoanalysis: rereading Et nunc manet in te by André Gide

Abstract

This article aims to show that psychoanalytic theories can be supported by cultural productions, and foremost by literary works. As an example, we examine the text Gide dedicated to his wife shortly after her death, Et nunc manet in te. We argue, on the one hand, that it provides a striking illustration of Freud’s theory of mourning, and on the other hand, that a psychoanalytic reading helps correct a misunderstanding that has long shaped its reception - namely, the idea that the text is a “diminished portrait.” The article explains the text’s unusual structure as a result of the psychic work of mourning that underlies its writing.