Woman is a Rational Animal “But now what am I, when I suppose that there is some supremely powerful and, if I may be permitted to say so, malicious deceiver who deliberately tries to fool me in any way he can?”(Decartes, 19). These words by Descartes seemto correlate directly with the theme of deception in thePrincesse De Cleves. In a world where appearance is merelya fiction created by necessity and nothing is as it firstseems, the ability to reason through a situation for publicgain is highly coveted and revered. In this courtly sphereof life, the ability to distinguish between that which isreal and that which if deceitful is of utmost importance. This distinction is rationalism in a different form thanthat of Decartes’. The Princesse De Cleves advances theCartesian form of Rationalism and applies it to everydayactions, leaving room for some emotions without allowingthem to control one’s actions. A central theme in the Princesse De Cleves is howactions are viewed in the public eye. As Monsieur deNemours states, “’At least, Sire, if I embark on such anextravagant adventure on your Majesty’s advice and in youservice, I beg you to keep it secret until success justifiesmy ambition in the public eye.’”(9) Nemours is worriedabout what the public will think rather than what the womanthe King wants him to marry is like. Nemours does notconcern himself with what he feels or what the woman feels,rather, he rationally contemplates the consequences of thisaction in relation to how the aristocracy will perceive him. This rational reaction is the same approach thatDescartes would have. Although Descartes may not agree withthe intent for which this rational thought is directed, hewould agree with the logic of Nemours’ actions because theyare not taken because of emotion or rash reaction to thesenses. Conversely, Nemours becomes one of the leastrational characte...
