And, indeed, all women, at least once, even Carla Bruni, have lived through the kind of psychological self-denigration that Renée inflicts on herself in the opening scene of the book. The ultimate celebration of every person’s invisible part (Renée smells of cabbage soup but reads Husserl) constitutes one of the book’s operative factors. https://www.europaeditions.com/review/358
What does the word "operative" mean in the above quotation?
That is translated from French. The original is: Et, en effet, toutes les femmes - même Carla Bruni... - ont vécu un jour cet autodénigrement physique que s'inflige Renée-la-concierge dans la première scène du roman.
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That is translated from French. The original is:
Et, en effet, toutes les femmes - même Carla Bruni... - ont vécu un jour cet autodénigrement physique que s'inflige Renée-la-concierge dans la première scène du roman. La célébration de la part invisible de l'être - Renée sent la soupe aux choux mais lit Husserl... - constitue l'un des autres ressorts agissants du roman.
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