In André Gide's profound novel, The Strait Gate, the narrative follows the tragic love story between Jérôme and his cousin Alissa. Their deep affection is tested and ultimately destroyed by Alissa's intense religious piety. She believes their earthly love prevents her from achieving spiritual purity and salvation, leading her to renounce their relationship in an act of extreme self-sacrifice. Told primarily through letters and journal entries, the book offers a poignant exploration of the conflict between human desire and the ascetic pursuit of virtue, questioning the destructive nature of excessive puritanism.