L'Obélisque (The Obelisk)

Research Status: Basic Last Updated: 2025-07-06 Diary Coverage: Up to 1874-04-21

Identity

A remarkably tall and beautiful woman who attends the concert with the Duchess de Mouchy. Marie is captivated by her beauty and imagined goodness. Has become a beauty standard Marie uses for comparison.

Diary References

1874

• March 14: At Grand Hotel concert with Duchess de Mouchy. Marie describes: "l'Obélisque qui est de toute beauté. Il n'y a rien à critiquer dans sa personne et avec sa beauté elle doit aussi être si bonne, si douce, si franche que je l'aime simplement, je l'aime."
• April 21: Mme de Mouchy's daughter described as "Une Obélisque future" - suggesting l'Obélisque represents pinnacle of beauty.

Context

• Nickname "Obélisque" (Obelisk) refers to exceptional height
• Considered flawlessly beautiful
• Marie projects goodness onto her based on beauty
• Part of highest aristocratic circles
• Marie's instant admiration and love
• Becomes archetype for female beauty
• Used as standard for comparing other beauties

Related Entries

• #Mme_de_Mouchy - Mother of future "Obélisque"

Research Notes

• Real identity unknown
• Nickname shows 19th century practice of descriptive sobriquets
• Marie's romantic idealization of beautiful women
• Beauty as predictive category