Jean-Dominique Bauby, a French journalist and former editor-in-chief of ELLE magazine in Paris, authored The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. This memoir is written from Bauby’s perspective and chronicles his experience with locked-in syndrome – an unusual condition that renders the body paralyzed while the brain remains responsive. Despite only having control over his head and left eye, Bauby accomplished the remarkable task of composing his memoir by blinking.
An interlocutor would recite a custom alphabet, organized according to the frequency of letters used in the French language. Despite Bauby’s incapacitated state, he communicated by blinking to indicate the correct letter (Wikipedia). This distinctive method provides readers with an understanding of the inner thoughts of a man who lacked any other means of communication. Presenting the story from another perspective, such as that of one of his hospital therapists, would highlight the medical aspects of his condition rather than his personal encounters.
If we were to hear the story from a family member or friend, our knowledge of Bauby’s condition would be limited to visits to the hospital and personal memories. Only by hearing the story directly from Bauby do we truly comprehend the life he led and the daily struggles he faced. Bauby passed away from pneumonia on March 9, 1997, just ten days after his book was published (Wikipedia). The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, a memoir that showcases Jean-Dominique Bauby’s unique perspective, vivid imagination, beautiful writing, and exploration of universal themes, serves as a testament to the power of the human mind.
At the Naval Hospital in northern France, Jean-Do begins his narrative by describing his current situation. He reveals that a year ago, he suffered a stroke in his brain stem which has rendered him completely paralyzed, a condition known as locked-in syndrome. Nevertheless, even though he cannot move physically, Jean-Do remains mentally alert and is able to share details about his life at the hospital and offer reflections on his daily experiences.
In this passage, the narrator discusses various healthcare professionals he encounters, including doctors and therapists. They also discuss the physical agony experienced when unable to move, as well as the daily tasks involved in being bathed, dressed, and fed. The narrator mentions having his right eye sewn shut because it stopped functioning. They further explain a communication system developed with their speech therapist, Sandrine, in which she recites the alphabet and the narrator blinks to indicate the correct letter. Additionally, friends and family occasionally come to visit the narrator. The narrator recalls a particular day spent with their children and their mother on the beach to celebrate father’s day, along with other visits.
Bauby reflects on his life before suffering a stroke, recalling various memories like his early career as a journalist, the act of shaving his father, a memorable journey he took with his lover, and the tragic day when he had the stroke. As the book nears its end, Bauby encounters an open purse on a nearby table containing a hotel room key, a metro ticket, and some money. These seemingly ordinary items now feel unfamiliar to him; they serve as reminders of a past life that he is no longer connected to. This realization prompts Bauby to accept that he is embarking on a new phase in his life and must embrace this reality in order to move forward.
In the book’s beginning, Bauby yearns for life to go back to how it was before his stroke. Nonetheless, only when he completely embraces his situation does his mind gain the freedom to wander. The memoir’s principal message is about the resilience of the human spirit in confronting profound physical disability. Bauby details the struggles of living with locked-in syndrome, including his conflicting emotions toward being washed, the torment of engaging in phone conversations where he can merely listen, and the frustration of not being able to shoo away a fly that has settled on his nose, among other hardships.
The book’s title, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, is inspired by Bauby’s concept that while his body was immobilized and heavy like a diving bell, his imagination and memories remained agile and light like a butterfly. Bauby expresses, “My cocoon becomes less oppressive, and my mind takes flight like a butterfly. There is so much to do. You can wander off in space or in time, set out for Tierra del Fuego or for King Midas’s court.” Numerous other symbols are present in the book as well. Jean-Do perceives the lighthouse outside the hospital as a symbol of hope for his future and a guiding light during difficult moments.
When Bauby wears his old student clothes, he sees them not as a painful reminder of the past, but as a symbol of his desire to remain true to himself. Similarly, his daughter Celeste’s drawing of a fish, which resembles the infinity symbol, represents resilience and the continuity of life. Due to his condition, Bauby is understandably succinct in his writing. The entirety of this book was composed by him using only his left eyelid to blink, during July and August of 1996.
The French alphabet was continuously recited by a transcriber according to the frequency of its use (E, S, A, R, I, N, T, U, L, etc.), until Bauby blinked to indicate moving on to the next letter. In approximately 200,000 blinks, the book was written, with each word taking an average of two minutes to spell. Bauby, being educated and an experienced journalist, used a vocabulary that reflects his background. Despite the concise nature of the writing, Bauby’s words are profound, evocative, emotional, and exquisitely written, as the book was composed and edited mentally and conveyed letter by letter.
The book contains minimal dialogue due to Bauby’s inability to speak. Instead, Jean-Do’s internal voice narrates the story, expressing his thoughts on his hospital experiences and recollections of his past life. The overall tone of the novel is simultaneously melancholic and lighthearted. There are heart-wrenching moments in Bauby’s account, like when his children visit him on father’s day and Theophile has to wipe saliva from his father’s mouth, while Jean-Do longs to run his fingers through his son’s hair.
Despite the moments of self-pity, the novel is not entirely somber. The author’s enduring hopes, dreams, and memories overshadow these moments. Bauby frequently injects witty and humorous remarks into his internal dialogue. He playfully nicknames the nurses as “Big Bird”, “Rambo”, and “Terminator”. When an arrogant doctor questions if Bauby sees double, he humorously responds to himself, “Yes, I see two assholes, not one.” Overall, the story carries an atmosphere of loneliness and isolation. Trapped within his own body, Bauby yearns for a reconnection with the outside world.
Jean Bauby started writing the memoir to seek human connection, combat loneliness, and share his experience with LIS. Through this process, Bauby not only learns about himself but also unintentionally teaches readers important life lessons that are often taken for granted. He emphasizes that every passing second presents an opportunity for change and inspires others to exhibit the same strength and determination in life. In my opinion, Bauby successfully achieves his purpose in writing the memoir, as it not only gives him a reason to live but also brings purpose and meaning to many other lives, including my own. What impressed me the most about this book is the composition itself – that Bauby managed to write such a moving and beautifully written memoir solely by blinking his left eye is truly remarkable. However, I found it frustrating at times when I didn’t understand the references to French people or places mentioned, as there were no footnotes provided for clarification.
If I were to rewrite this book, I would modify it by expanding on Bauby’s connection with his girlfriend and also his bond with his children and their mother. If given the chance to talk to a character in his book, I would advise Sylvie, the mother of his children, to allow the children to have more quality time with their father and to visit him on Sundays, a day that Bauby describes as painfully lifeless.
One thing in this book that reminded me of another book I read was when Jean-Do mentions the character of the elderly Noirtier de Villefort, from the Count of Monte Cristo, who he describes as being “literature’s first — and so far only — case of locked-in syndrome.”
The character that I could most identify with was Jean-Do. His situation reflects the challenges faced by all people: to surpass our physical limitations and establish a connection with the surrounding world. We both possess a vivid imagination and maintain an optimistic perspective on life.
If I were to teach this book, I would focus on the process of how it was written because it speaks for itself. This book is recommended for anyone who needs motivation or inspiration. Reading this book can benefit everyone. Jean-Dominique Bauby’s story serves as a reminder that life is still beautiful, priceless, and worth living even during difficult times.
Works Cited “Jean-Dominique Bauby.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 21 Nov 2008, 13:34 UTC. 9 Dec 2008.
