The Story of André Cornélis

"The Story of André Cornélis" by Paul Bourget is a novel where the main character, André Cornélis, goes on a soul-searching mission after his father is killed in a strange way. André is trying to make sense of his life after this awful event, and he’s dealing with feelings of sadness and anger. At the start, we see André remembering when he was a kid and had to confess his sins, which makes us think about how innocent he used to be before his father’s death. He remembers feeling scared and guilty in the school chapel. These memories contrast sharply with the harsh reality of his father's death, which has caused him a lot of pain. As the story moves forward, André really wants to know what happened to his father. He also has a lot of complicated feelings about his mother and the man who is now in his father's place. Writing becomes a way for André to confront what happened in the past, showing how trauma, memories, and the search for understanding can all mix together when the world seems confusing and uncaring.