Olympia's Look

In the story “Olympia’s Look” by Susan Vreeland, readers are taken on a journey through Edouard Manet’s life and paintings via historical fiction. Vreeland crafts a narrative based on facts to describe and infer about the man’s life and the lives of those around him. The story is written from the point of view of his wife, Suzanne, after Manet’s death. This allows Vreeland to make speculations about Edouard through Suzanne and also describe her character. Suzanne is self-described as a tolerant and placid individual. She would do anything for Edouard to “keep the peace”. She stood by him through his affairs, though she was hurt by them, and did not forgive. This personality was evidenced by one of the passages:

“The next morning she had begun her private program of self-development. She would be alone. She’d have to get over anger, timidity, and grief all at the same time. She’d have to speak her mind. She couldn’t retreat into her music. How inconsequential her first efforts were. Helene, this soup is cold, and, Edouard, I’d prefer the window closed. At least it was a start.
The day she seized the letter had been a big step.”

Most any woman who suspects an affair would usually have no trouble intercepting a letter that is to be delivered to another lover and would probably confront their husband directly. So why not Suzanne? She is a genuinely nice, easy-going person who does not like to disturb things. This is the same as not even speaking her mind on simple things, such as preferring warm soup or the position of the window. For most people, it would be natural to express one’s desire for something as simple as basic comfort. However, this is difficult for Suzanne, because she does not wish to upset him.

So, why is Suzanne so adamant about maintaining the status quo? Is it because she had no free will? Was she beaten by a male figure? Did she feel like women were supposed to be subservient to men? The answer to all of these questions is no. She had free will and the ability to change. This is evidenced by her seizing the letter, speaking her mind, and choosing to have the portraits copied. Her personality is a caring one, and because of this, she does not want to cause anyone unhappiness, ever. This is why she tolerates the affairs and does not expose them, because she believes that if it makes Edouard happy, then she has no right to take that from him because she loves him. She has spent her life trying to make him happy and thus would not want to rob him of this happiness, even if it is at her own expense. The grief of Edouard’s death, and the release of the burden of having to walk on eggshells to assure his happiness (or so she believed was necessary), was the catalyst of change. It allowed her to realize that her happiness is important too and that she could still be a caring loving person while speaking her mind and having things her way every once in a while.