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What feelings about religion appear in Alfred de Vigny’s poem Paris?
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Alfred-Victor, count de Vigny
Vigny, lithograph by Antoine Maurin, 1832
In his 1831 poem "Paris," Alfred de Vigny acknowledges a profound sense of disillusionment, marking a period in his life where he could no longer rely on the religious faith of his childhood.1
This shift reflects a broader crisis of belief that Vigny experienced during this time. His feelings regarding the decline of faith are further illustrated by his later contemplation of suicide in 1832, where he poignantly noted, "And God? Such were the times, they no longer thought about Him". This sentiment aligns with Vigny’s later development as a philosopher-poet, characterized by a tormented skepticism and a critical view of a silent, indifferent Providence.12