An analysis of the music symbols in Pascal Quignard’s <i>Tous les matins du monde</i>

Abstract This research paper delves into the intricate role of music as a symbolic form in Pascal Quignard’s novel Tous les matins du monde , exploring its capacity to convey profound human emotions and experiences. Set against the backdrop of 17th-century France, the narrative follows the lives of Monsieur de Sainte Colombe and Marin Marais, renowned viola da gamba players, to contemplate the essence of music and its representation of human sentiment. The paper examines the semiotic nature of music, its relationship with memory and emotion, and the philosophical inquiry into music’s intrinsic value as an art form. It also discusses the novel’s adaptation into a film and its impact on the revival of Baroque music. Furthermore, the paper draws parallels between the myth of Orpheus and the characters’ personal journeys, highlighting the transformative power of music and its ability to transcend reality. The analysis is grounded in the works of various scholars, including Ferdinand de Saussure, Suzanne Langer, and Charles Sanders Peirce, to provide a comprehensive understanding of music’s symbolic essence in Quignard’s literary creation.