How did Paul de Man’s early family tragedies affect his studies at the Free University of Brussels?

When Paul de Man entered the Free University of Brussels (ULB) in 1937 at age 17, his academic progress was severely hindered by the lingering effects of family tragedies. These events included the accidental death of his brother and the suicide of his mother, whose body he had discovered. As a result of the emotional toll of these experiences, de Man failed many of his courses and ultimately never earned a degree from the institution.1