Boule de Suif is a short story written by Guy de Maupassant. Released in 1880, it tells of a group of travellers being held up by Prussian soldiers. The English translations of the title are Dumpling, Butterball, Ball of Fat, or Ball of Lard.
Characters[]
- Elisabeth Rousset (Boule de Suif) - a prostitute from Rouen with a round frame.
- Prussian officer
- Corundet, the Radical - a fervent Democrat with a kindly and jocular personality
- M. Loiseau - a wine-merchant from Rouen described as a skinflint with a sense of humour
- Mme. Loiseau - the wife of M. Loiseau, described as "powerfully built and determined"
- M. Carré-Lamadon - a "man of substance with an assured position in the cotton trade".
- Mme. Carré-Lamadon - the young wife of M. Carré-Lamadon
- The Comte Hubert de Bréville - the "representative of the Orleanist party in the Department".
- The Comtesse Hubert de Bréville - the Comte's wife, the daughter of a "small ship-owner".
- The nuns - two nuns from Rouen who join the riders. They are usually silent but join into the "siege" on Elisabeth
Plot summary[]
During the Franco-Prussian War, the city of Rouen falls to the advancing Prussian armies. Though a few citizens make secretive attacks on the invading armies, the citizens of Rouen and the Prussian soldiers make a somewhat uneasy peace. As a winter storm blows over the town, ten travellers from various parts of Rouen's society start a voyage to the Prussian-free city of Le Havre in a stagecoach. Among their number is a prostitute nicknamed Boule de Suif (whose real name is Elisabeth Rousset), whom the wives in the carriage gossip about.
As the carriage drives through the snow, its occupants (who largely forgot to bring any food) find no food in the surrounding lands due to the war. As such, they are near starving before Elisabeth reveals a basket of food that she offers to share with the occupants of the coach. After some prodding, the other riders join in and devour the food in the carriage. Several hours later, the stagecoach rides into the village of Tôtes. While at a coaching-inn, the crew are captured by German soldiers. Though their papers are approved, the commanding officer asks to see Elisabeth in private. Several minutes later, an enraged Elisabeth storms out of the room calling the officer a "blackguard".
Over dinner, the occupants of the carriage talk about politics (largely on about the amorality of war). That night, Corundet tries to hire Elisabeth's services but she refuses due to the enemy essentially being at their doorstep. Unbeknownst to either, they are being watched by Loiseau. The next morning, the riders find their carriage's driver is missing. They also see a group of German soldiers helping out around the village. Once they find the driver, he reveals that the commanding officer of the Prussians is keeping him and his passengers from leaving but he and the officer give no indication of why - leading the riders to worry that they are being kept to ransom. The answer to the rider's dilemma comes during a game of Trente et Un (or thirty-one) that Elisabeth reveals why the riders are being kept in Tôtes - the officer wishes to sleep with Boule de Suif.
Initially, Elisabeth's fellow passengers are enraged and disgusted over the officer's plans but their disgust soon turns to wrath at Elisabeth over "trapping" them in Tôtes. While at a walk around the village, the riders sight the officer. Elisabeth's fellow riders initially keep their wrathful feelings to themselves - waiting for Elisabeth to leave for a baptism (which she intended due to thoughts of her son) to even talk about them. During this talk, all except Corundet agree to break down Elisabeth's moral defences to make her accept the officer's demands using allusions to history and moral arguments the riders. Over two days, the riders work their stratagems until the prostitute breaks down and sleeps with the officer. That night, the riders celebrate their "victory". The only rider not celebrating is Corundet - who is disgusted with the arrangement (which Loiseau claims is due to "sour grapes").
The next day, the riders are allowed to leave. All except Elisabeth (who left in a hurry) bring food with them. In a mirroring of the beggining of the story, Elisabeth's fellow riders completely ignore her - eating their food and talking among themselves while Elisabeth goes hungry. Even Corundet (most likely due to jealousy) ignores her but he begins singing the "song of the Republic" while Elisabeth sobs due to her lost dignity.