Around the World in 80 Books discussion

Start discussion here for A Simple Heart by Gustave Flaubert.

Book Summary (from Shmoop)

The whole story is about Félicité Barette, who works for fifty years as Madame Aubain's maid. All of Madame Aubain's friends are jealous of her because Félicité is a really good servant.

The only information we get about Félicité's early life is that she had her heart broken by a guy named Théodore, who ran off and married a rich woman to avoid the military draft, leaving her high and dry. The next day she starts working for Madame Aubain and never looks back.

Félicité is crazy about Madame Aubain's daughter, Virginie, and about her own nephew, Victor. Victor signs on to an ocean voyage and dies of yellow fever in Cuba, to Félicité's utter dismay. Virginie dies at boarding school of pneumonia, which breaks both Félicité's and Madame Aubain's hearts.

Félicité inherits a parrot named Loulou, and after he dies she has him stuffed. Madame Aubain dies, and Félicité remains in her room, impoverished and deaf. She gets very sick until one day she dies, with a vision of Loulou as the Holy Spirit greeting her in heaven.


About the Author from Ecyclopaedia Britannica

Gustave Flaubert, 19th century French novelist regarded as the prime mover of the realist school of French literature and best known for his masterpiece, Madame Bovary, a realistic portrayal of bourgeois life, which led to a trial on charges of the novel’s alleged immorality.

Discussion Questions (from Huntington Public Library)

1. Did Félicité live a life worth living? Did Madame Aubain?

2. Is "A Simple Heart" a love story?

3. Why are the men in this story so unimpressive?

4. Why is Félicité's first communion less moving to her than Virginie's?

5. What is Flaubert's religious position? Is his realism to be taken at face value?

6. Is there a parallelism between the deaths of Victor and Virginie?

7. Why does Théodore's jilting of Félicité play an such an important role in the rest of her life?

8. Why is Madame Aubain so mean to Félicité?

9. Why does Flaubert have Félicité reject the Polish suitor over his theft of a salad (p. 49)?

10. Why, after Félicité and Madame Aubain exchange a kiss, does Flaubert say of Félicité that "Her native goodness unfolded in her heart"?

11. What does Loulou symbolize?

12. Is Loulou important in tying together the story?

1. Did Félicité live a life worth living? Did Madame Aubain?

I can't help but think Félicité reacted after her break-up with Theodore and proceeded to just give up on life and throw away any possible chances of happiness. Perhaps she could have had a different life, but given the time and her low social class and circumstances, probably not. Her life with Theodore probably wouldn't have been so great considering how much of a disrespectful jerk he was. Her life is worth living since she gives so much of herself for the good of others and leads a life of humility. For her, it is more important to love than to be loved. Madame Aubain's is also a life worth living, although she was not happy with her lot in life. She did not live the life she expected for her social class and she experienced great losses. Her lot in life led to her being a less than likable person and keeping others at a distance. Félicité saved her from further hardships that Mme. Aubain didn't even notice. Basically, Félicité is very grateful even though she legitimately has nothing, while Mme. Aubain is not grateful for what she has since it isn't what she feels she deserves.

2. Is "A Simple Heart" a love story?

Yes, but not in the way one thinks of a traditional love story. It does show the power of love in respect to those one care's for. Not romantic love, though.

3. Why are the men in this story so unimpressive?

The are more "temporary" and flawed in comparison to the women. They create heartache for the women who love them. Victor is pretty much the only male who isn't a jerk, but he was only in the story for a short while. He also creates heartache, but its unintentional

4. Why is Félicité's first communion less moving to her than Virginie's?

I think she loved Virginie more than she ever loved herself. She is also developing a better understanding of religion as she observes Virginie's catechism and steps toward first communion.

5. What is Flaubert's religious position? Is his realism to be taken at face value?

Not sure on this one. My take is that humility, purity, faith, selflessness, and good deeds are eventually rewarded in the afterlife. One could argue that Félicité's life is symbolic of that of a saint.

6. Is there a parallelism between the deaths of Victor and Virginie?

Both represented the children she never had, both were very good people who (view spoiler)[ died very young. (hide spoiler)]

7. Why does Théodore's jilting of Félicité play an such an important role in the rest of her life?

I think, given her low circumstances and history of misfortunes, she viewed this engagement as her only chance. It became the turning point in her life. Instead of sacrificing her life to say, suicide, she instead sacrificed herself to the service of others. This makes sense since she was such an unselfish person.

8. Why is Madame Aubain so mean to Félicité?

Madame Aubain isn't really nice to anyone. She is a bitter woman. I am sure she resents her closeness to Virginie and her ability to be content with so little. She is also jealous of Félicité's abilities to run the household so efficiently.

9. Why does Flaubert have Félicité reject the Polish suitor over his theft of a salad (p. 49)?

His dishonesty and thoughtlessness as to why she made the salad, I imagine.

10. Why, after Félicité and Madame Aubain exchange a kiss, does Flaubert say of Félicité that "Her native goodness unfolded in her heart"?

11. What does Loulou symbolize?

The many forms of love and an embodiment of Félicité's faith. Félicité perceives her as a symbol of the power of the Holy Spirit.


12. Is Loulou important in tying together the story?

Loulou is Félicité's last love and as I mentioned above, an embodiment of Félicité's faith. (view spoiler)[Her selflessness ultimately leads to her demise and in her confusion, she mistakenly regards Loulou as the Holy Spirit. (hide spoiler)]

Your questions and answers are fascinating, too, Diane. I need to finish one current book and plan to start this Monday or Tuesday.

Carol wrote: "Your questions and answers are fascinating, too, Diane. I need to finish one current book and plan to start this Monday or Tuesday."

It is a very quick read. I just noticed that I missed one of the questions. Oops.

I really enjoyed this. The author conveys so much in so few words. Thanks for the questions and answers. Still trying to catch up on some I've missed.

I studied this book in university. The main character had such a hard life, if I remember correctly.