Memory and time
Proust hopes to look backward in time to see what he used to be, to see how time brought him forth in his development to his current place in life. He sees the shape of a human life, but only dimly, because his capacity to remember things is just not that great. The imagery of his attempt to remember is shaped by nostalgia, and it is defined by a dreamlike consciousness where he tries to elicit moments in time and then string them together in an honest way.
Marriage and social hierarchy
There is a concrete and abstract imagery that Proust elaborates when considering marriage. Firstly, he sees the reality of marriage in his life as it determines his rank in a social hierarchy. It signals the potential for social dynamic, because to marry a hot rich gal would prove his worth in his community. Therefore, it also signals an abstract imagery within himself—his own self-esteem as he tries to believe the best about himself so he can make the most of his opportunity.
Sorrow and inferiority
By trying to establish himself, Proust remembers the way his suffering limited his performance in the public sphere. This led to his experience of inferiority which was frustrated by his earnest belief that he was genuinely good and impressive. The truth was that his father's death left his family rattled, and it didn't make him eager to participate in the public sphere. This imagery points to the way the public views him and judges him. Although they're wrong about him, his experience of self is still shaped by their opinion.
Literature and poetry
In light of this dilemma, Proust finds himself chronically pushed toward explanation. He feels a burden to communicate why he is the way he is, and when he realizes his call to writing, he sees there might be a design of fate. He hopes so, anyway, and the longing for life to be redeemed leads to his attempts to capture the reality of his situation in an artistic way, "redeeming" his suffering by transfiguring it into something he can use in the public sphere to gain approval. He is showing through abstract imagery the way his art theory developed through the private turmoil of his life as a young man.
