y with disease, blood, original-sin-as-original-grace, the secret instinct, the authentic selfö (2).
During his bout with tuberculosis, Michel realizes that his life is a sham. He has been living according to how others wish him to live. He has repressed his genuine or authentic self and its desires in order to win the approval of others. His real self has been hidden under a mask, built up from layers of adopted morality, education, and social obligations. The novel actually is MichelÆs journey of self-exploration. He is a torn soul who suffers from a sense of split personality in that until he can integrate his sexuality into the fabric of his social and professional life he cannot bring harmony to the public and private self. When Michel begins to enjoy the company of the b
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