Preface

The Immoralist was first published in 1902 without a preface. However, in later editions of the novel, Gide included a brief "Preface" in response to the reactions of readers and critics to certain aspects of his story. In this preface, Gide explains that many people have misunderstood The Immoralist and criticized it unfairly. He states that he has been blamed for not ending his story with a clear moral condemnation of Michel's behavior. However, Gide insists that it was not his intent to provide moral conclusions to his tale, but to pose a problem. He asserts that the problem represented in The Immoralist is one commonly experienced by many men of his day. He states, "I don't pretend to have invented this 'problem'—it existed before my book came along," and that, regardless of the fate of the character in the novel, "the 'problem' continues to exist." Finally, Gide...