Three Tales - Gustave Flaubert

Summary

'Three Tales' (Trois contes) is a collection of three novellas by Gustave Flaubert, published in 1877, each distinct in its setting, style, and subject matter, showcasing Flaubert's versatile mastery of prose.

The first tale, "A Simple Heart" (Un cœur simple), is a poignant story of Félicité, a devout and unassuming servant woman who dedicates her life to selfless service and love, experiencing various forms of loss and finding solace in her simple faith and devotion to her beloved parrot, Loulou.

The second, "Saint Julian the Hospitaler" (La Légende de Saint Julien l'Hospitalier), is a medieval legend recounted with Flaubert's characteristic precision. It follows Julian, born into nobility, who is prophesied to become a great saint but also a parricide. Obsessed with hunting, he inadvertently fulfills the prophecy and seeks redemption through a life of penance and service, culminating in a miraculous act of charity.

The final tale, "Herodias" (Hérodias), is a dramatic retelling of the biblical story of Salome's dance and the beheading of John the Baptist. Set against the backdrop of political intrigue and religious tension in ancient Judea, it explores themes of power, desire, and fanaticism, depicting the events through the perspectives of Herod Antipas, Herodias, and other historical figures.

Book Sections

Section: A Simple Heart

This story recounts the life of Félicité, a simple, uneducated, and profoundly selfless servant woman. Born into poverty in rural Normandy, she experiences early misfortune and heartache. At the age of eighteen, her first and only love, Théodore, abandons her for an older, wealthier woman, leaving her heartbroken. This betrayal solidifies her decision to remain unmarried.

She finds employment as a maid for Madame Aubain, a widowed bourgeoise living in Pont-l'Évêque with her two young children, Victor and Virginie. For over fifty years, Félicité serves Madame Aubain with unwavering loyalty, efficiency, and devotion, becoming an indispensable part of the household. She performs all domestic duties without complaint, living a life of quiet sacrifice and unrequited affection.

Félicité develops deep attachments to Madame Aubain's children. She tirelessly cares for Virginie, especially when the girl is sent away to a convent for her education, and later suffers profoundly when Virginie dies of pneumonia. She also dotes on Victor, her nephew, who becomes a sailor. His death by yellow fever at sea is another crushing blow. Despite her grief, Félicité's simple faith sustains her.

Her deepest affection eventually turns to a parrot named Loulou, given to her by her nephew. Loulou becomes her constant companion, a surrogate for her lost loved ones. She trains him, talks to him, and even comes to associate him with the Holy Spirit due to his green and yellow plumage. When Loulou dies, Félicité has him stuffed. As her health deteriorates and her senses fail, she becomes increasingly isolated. In her final moments, during a religious procession, she hallucinates Loulou ascending to heaven, believing he is the Holy Spirit, and dies in a state of beatific vision, her heart filled with pure, simple devotion.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Félicité	Simple, uneducated, selfless, loyal, devout, resilient, deeply empathetic, emotionally vulnerable despite outward stoicism.	To serve others, to love and be loved, to find meaning and purpose in her humble existence, to express her deep faith.
Madame Aubain	Widowed, bourgeois, somewhat cold and detached, concerned with appearances, relies heavily on Félicité but rarely shows deep affection.	To maintain her social standing, to care for her children (within conventional limits), to manage her household.
Théodore	Young, handsome, unfaithful, opportunistic.	To pursue his own romantic and financial interests, to abandon his commitments.
Victor	Madame Aubain's son, eventually becomes a sailor.	To seek adventure, to live his own life away from home.
Virginie	Madame Aubain's daughter, gentle, delicate, religious.	To pursue a religious education, to live a devout life.
Loulou	A parrot, becomes Félicité's most cherished companion.	Instinctive animal behavior, serves as an object of Félicité's intense affection and spiritual symbolism.

Section: Saint Julian the Hospitaler

This tale recounts the legendary life of Saint Julian, a figure of medieval hagiography. Julian is born to a noble Lord and Lady who are advanced in years and have long prayed for a child. His birth is heralded by two prophecies: a hermit foretells his mother that her son will be a great saint and a conqueror, while a ragged old man tells his father that Julian is destined for glory, but also to shed the blood of his kin.

Julian grows up strong, handsome, and skillful, but he also displays a disturbing love for hunting. He derives immense pleasure from the chase, often slaughtering animals indiscriminately and to excess, finding a cruel satisfaction in the act. His parents try to curb his violent tendencies, but to no avail. One day, while hunting a stag, the stag turns and curses him, prophesying that Julian will murder his own father and mother. This prophecy deeply disturbs Julian, and he attempts to flee his fate by leaving home and joining foreign armies, where he earns renown as a fierce warrior and general.

After years of fighting, he marries the daughter of an Emperor and settles into a life of luxury and peace. However, his old hunting urges return, causing him to relive the prophecy in his dreams. One night, while his wife is away visiting her family, Julian's parents, having searched for him for years, arrive at his castle. His wife, mistaking them for Julian, offers them her bed. Julian returns, sees two figures in his bed, and, convinced his wife is being unfaithful, slays them both in a fit of rage, only to discover, to his horror, that he has killed his own parents.

Devastated and repentant, Julian confesses his parricide to his wife, who forgives him. He then leaves everything behind to embark on a lifelong penance, wandering the world as a mendicant, doing charitable deeds, and establishing hospices. He eventually settles by a dangerous river crossing, devoting himself to ferrying pilgrims, the poor, and the sick across the treacherous waters, day and night, regardless of the weather.

One bitterly cold night, an old, horribly disfigured leper asks for passage. Julian ferries him across and, seeing the leper's extreme suffering, brings him into his own hut, shares his meager food, and offers him his bed. The leper then asks Julian to warm him with his own body. Julian, overcoming his revulsion, lies down naked with the leper. As he embraces the leper, the leper transforms into Jesus Christ, who tells Julian his sins are forgiven and lifts him to heaven.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Julian	Born noble, handsome, strong, skilled hunter, initially cruel and violent, later deeply repentant, devout, self-sacrificing.	Early: To fulfill his powerful urges for hunting and conquest, to assert his dominance. Later: To escape his prophesied fate, to achieve renown, to atone for his parricide, to seek redemption through service and extreme penance, to find spiritual peace.
Julian's Father	Noble Lord, devout, longs for a son, proud of Julian's prowess but concerned by his violence.	To continue his lineage, to raise a worthy heir, to provide for his family, to protect his son from his own destructive tendencies.
Julian's Mother	Noble Lady, devout, longs for a son, deeply loving, nurturing, also concerned by Julian's violence.	To fulfill her desire for motherhood, to raise a devout child, to protect her son.
The Emperor's Daughter (Julian's Wife)	Beautiful, kind, forgiving, devoted to Julian.	To love and support her husband, to live a peaceful and happy life, to encourage Julian's good deeds, to show unwavering loyalty despite his crimes.
The Leper	Sick, disfigured, suffering, representative of the lowest and most vulnerable, ultimately revealed as Jesus Christ.	To test Julian's faith and capacity for charity, to offer Julian ultimate redemption and salvation.

Section: Herodias

This tale is a vivid and dramatic recounting of the biblical story of the beheading of John the Baptist, set in the fortress of Machaerus in Judea around 30 AD. The story opens with Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, anxiously awaiting a delegation from Rome, led by Vitellius, the Proconsul of Syria, whom he hopes will support his petition to be crowned king. He is troubled by recent events, including his divorce of the Nabatean princess, daughter of King Aretas, and his controversial marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. This marriage is condemned by John the Baptist, a charismatic prophet who preaches to the masses and is imprisoned by Herod in the fortress.

Herodias, a shrewd and ambitious woman, is deeply resentful of John, whose condemnation threatens her legitimacy and her husband's power. She schemes to have him executed, constantly manipulating Herod, who is fascinated and disturbed by John, yet hesitant to kill him due to popular support for the prophet and his own superstitious fears.

The fortress is bustling with a diverse crowd: Roman soldiers, Jewish priests, Nazarenes, Sadducees, Essenes, and various courtiers and servants, all representing the complex political and religious tensions of the era. The arrival of Vitellius adds another layer of intrigue, as Herod hopes to gain Rome's favor.

During a lavish banquet to celebrate Herod's birthday and Vitellius's visit, Salome, Herodias's beautiful young daughter, is persuaded by her mother to perform an exotic dance. Herod, intoxicated by wine and Salome's captivating performance, publicly promises her anything she desires, up to half his kingdom. Influenced by her mother, Salome requests the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

Herod is horrified and conflicted. He tries to dissuade Salome, offering her jewels, cities, and immense wealth, but Salome, driven by her mother's instruction and a cold, unwavering resolve, insists on John's head. The guests are silent, the Roman proconsul impassive. Bound by his oath and pressured by Herodias, Herod reluctantly gives the command. A soldier descends into the dungeon, and soon returns with John's severed head on a silver platter.

The head is presented to Salome, who carries it to her mother. The narrative concludes with the disciples of John taking his body and his head, carrying them away in the darkness, hinting at the future spread of his teachings. Vitellius leaves, non-committal about Herod's kingship, leaving Herodias and Herod to face their future, forever tainted by their act.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Herod Antipas	Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, weak-willed, superstitious, vain, driven by fear and desire, politically astute but morally compromised.	To secure Roman support for his kingship, to maintain political stability, to satisfy his carnal desires (for Herodias and Salome), to suppress dissent, yet also to grapple with his fascination/fear of John the Baptist.
Herodias	Ambitious, ruthless, manipulative, proud, resentful of John's condemnation, politically shrewd.	To legitimize her marriage, to eliminate John the Baptist who publicly condemns her, to secure her social and political standing, to wield power through Herod.
Salome	Young, beautiful, innocent yet pliable, tool of her mother's ambition, ultimately cold and determined in her request.	Initially to dance and please her stepfather. Later, under her mother's influence, to demand John's head, likely without fully grasping the moral weight or political implications, acting as a vessel for Herodias's revenge.
John the Baptist	Ascetic prophet, charismatic, fearless, unwavering in his moral condemnation, speaks truth to power, inspires fervent devotion.	To preach repentance, to condemn sin and injustice (specifically Herod's marriage), to prepare the way for the Messiah, to fulfill his prophetic mission, to maintain his moral integrity unto death.
Vitellius	Roman Proconsul of Syria, shrewd, politically pragmatic, observing, non-committal.	To assess the political situation in Judea, to ensure Roman interests are protected, to maintain imperial control without directly intervening in local religious disputes, to gauge Herod's loyalty and stability.
Manaëi	An Essene, advisor to Herod.	To offer counsel to Herod, to subtly influence policy, representing one of the many religious factions present.

Literary Genre

Realism, Naturalism, Historical Fiction, Hagiography.

Author Data

Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880) was a renowned French novelist, considered one of the masters of realism. He is celebrated for his meticulous attention to detail, pursuit of le mot juste (the exact word), and objective narration. His works often feature ironic detachment and a precise, classical style. Flaubert was intensely dedicated to his craft, spending immense time on revision and refining his prose. His other famous works include 'Madame Bovary', 'Salammbô', 'Bouvard and Pécuchet', and 'Sentimental Education'.

Morals and Curiosities

Morals/Lessons:

• A Simple Heart: The story explores the virtues of selfless devotion, unconditional love, and simple faith in the face of life's hardships and losses. It suggests that profound spirituality can exist outside of intellectual sophistication and formal dogma, finding expression in the purest of hearts. It also highlights the often-unacknowledged suffering and quiet dignity of the working class.
• Saint Julian the Hospitaler: This tale delves into themes of fate versus free will, the destructive nature of obsession (particularly violence), sin, penance, and the possibility of radical redemption through extreme self-sacrifice and charity. It suggests that even the most heinous sins can be forgiven through genuine repentance and boundless compassion.
• Herodias: This story explores the corrupting influence of power, lust, fanaticism, and political expediency. It depicts how moral weakness (Herod), manipulative ambition (Herodias), and innocent complicity (Salome) can lead to tragic consequences, illustrating the clash between religious fervor and worldly authority, and the indifference of power to justice.

Curiosities:

• 'Three Tales' was published late in Flaubert's career, after 'Madame Bovary' and 'Sentimental Education', and is often seen as a final, concentrated display of his diverse talents.
• "A Simple Heart" is frequently considered a masterpiece of the short story form and is often contrasted with the cynicism of 'Madame Bovary', suggesting a more sympathetic view of humanity. Flaubert himself stated that he wrote it to show that a "simple heart" is not necessarily a weak or naive one, but can be capable of profound love and faith.
• Flaubert conducted extensive historical research for "Saint Julian the Hospitaler" and "Herodias," drawing from medieval legends and biblical accounts, respectively, much as he did for his longer historical novel 'Salammbô'. This dedication to historical accuracy, combined with his imaginative storytelling, creates a rich and immersive experience for the reader.
• The three tales collectively demonstrate Flaubert's range in style and subject matter, from the domestic realism of "A Simple Heart" to the fantastical medieval legend of "Saint Julian" and the dramatic biblical epic of "Herodias." They also showcase his mastery of narrative voice and his ability to evoke different historical periods.
• The character of Loulou the parrot in "A Simple Heart" is particularly memorable and has been the subject of much literary analysis, representing Félicité's emotional and spiritual attachments, and ultimately her final, ecstatic vision of the Holy Spirit.