Boule de Suif
'Boule De Suif', written by Guy de Maupassant, is a short story set in the background of the Franco-Prussian war.
The story opened with a description of French soldiers retreating from the advancing Prussian army. For avoiding the suffering the war was taken, ten travelers fleeing the town of Rouen (occupied by the Prussians) to Le Havre. The members of the carriage represented a higher social class, either extremely wealthy or members of the government or both, nobility, middle class, lower middle class and people of God. Boule De Suif was a prostitute, so she is ignored and not talked about through a large part of the journey. The rest hypocrite people colorful side appeared when she presented a picnic basket full of food to the others. The members become more talkative and comfortable around her presence. On the way to Le Havre, the carriage stopped at the Totes village. They realized that they have stepped onto Prussian territory and will be allowed to leave if Boule De Suif slept with the officer. After two days’ pretence, they showed their true face and then use logic, religion and melodrama to convince her unscrupulously to give up her dignity for the sake of their lives. Boule De Suif gave in and the travelers resumed their journey. For the remaining journey the travelers abandoned her and refused to share their food with her, even though her food was eaten up with them previously.
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