ABSTRACT
Through exploring some of the voluminous correspondence Durrell kept with his friends during his actual stay in Alexandria during the Second World War and during the years he wrote the Quartet, this chapter explores the way he turned the city into a liminal area where he is able to mature. Writing about Alexandria has turned the City into a character in the book.
The chapter also explores his idea of the Heraldic Universe, a term which served Durrell to illustrate his concept of art and creativity, pointing towards a sense of existential isolation required for the artist to fulfil himself.
Lastly, the chapter deals with the way Durrell used the images of Alexandria to work through and explore his sense of sexuality. Inspired perhaps by Freudian notions, Durrell explores the sexuality of the protagonists, complicating the notion that individual has no sense of control over his own destiny. As well as being governed by internal unconscious forces, he is also subject the external powers greater than himself. Thus, retreating into the safety of solitude, the artist is able to create his masterpiece. It is only through writing that the individual is able to master control over his sense of identity and belonging, enabling him to end his self-imposed exile.
