Sevignes Letters - Essay Example

She eagerly relates and analyses the situations that have to do with these, and whether they be grave or light, colors them blithely and with humor. Madame de Sevigne demonstrates her close connection with her children in the initial stages of the letter. The greeting overflows with sentiment to her daughter, who has recently embarked on a journey. It is clear that she is concerned about her daughter's state of both health and mind, though at first it is unclear why. She writes, "I am eating my heart out, and my impatience is upsetting my sleep.

" Further evidence of her motherly concern for her daughter is in her response to Madame de Grignan's depressed state of mind. Mme. De Sevigne is aware that he daughter's pregnancy is causing her a reasonable amount of mental and physical strain. She offers her support through her frequent and lengthy letters, calculated to distract and divert her child. This is evident in her constant charges to her daughter to take care of herself: "Mind you don't fall." She is also very quick to praise her daughter in order to counteract the effects of the mood swings associated with her pregnancy.

In her concern for her son she also shows her parental concern and the fulfillment of her duties in that office. She expresses her unease with his relations with the opposite sex and the general devolution of his character. She fears for his health as well as his spiritual well-being, as expressed in her words: "I had always breathed a word to him about God, reminded him of his former virtue and begged him not to stifle the Holy Spirit." Her son has found himself in a difficult situation, but she shows herself to be consolable and rational adjudicator of the situation, as she expects that he will eventually learn from his mistakes.

Madame de Sevigne's duties and concerns as a parent extend to her granddaughter as well, since she is left in charge of her while her daughter and husband are gone. By her own admission, she is noticeably agitated when she realizes that the child's nurse has not been producing enough milk. She writes, " I couldn't sleep in peace for thinking that the child was sickening." She shows she cares in her willingness to take care of her daughter's family in her absence and her thoroughness in doing the job well.

In her household duties, Madame de Sevigne shows admirable capabilities. She attends to the affairs of the house with a quick-witted skill that keeps it running smoothly, and she demonstrates an ability to handle the economics of a household. This is first shown in the way she deals with the situation concerning her grandchild and the nurse whose produces too little milk. She quickly identifies the problem and obtains a diagnosis from an expert. Then she shrewdly garners a new nurse for the child, while generously compensating the former one for her months of service.

For her judiciousness in her duties as a household manager, she is rewarded by the child's taking to the new nurse and feeding like she never had before. Madame de Sevigne again demonstrates her astuteness regarding household matters in her apparent ability to manage money. She relates the story of M. d'Ambres' transfer of his regiment to the king because of his penury as a result of bad money management. She shows herself attentive to the proper way to manage money in