A Simple Saint: Felicite as an Embodiment of Christian Virtues Audrey Roclore College

Beginning from the title, “A Simple Heart”, the reader can already sense a tone of fondness emoting from the author. Despite his intellect and pride in his education which is a stark contrast from his main character, Gustave Flaubert depicts Felicite with dignity and empathy. This respectful and accurate depiction is a style which Flaubert popularizes called literary realism. Though Georges Sand did challenge Flaubert to be nice to his protagonist, it was also essential in making his style so widely received and influential. His many methods of depicting common things in an elegant light must have been refreshing to the public after an era of monarchical tyranny and revolution for a less classist system. From representing Christian values in everyday items to his use of free indirect discourse, Flaubert created a genre for the new French Republic.

While he could have chosen to depict Felicite as an unintelligent character meant to be ridiculed by an elite, educated audience, Flaubert chooses to portray her as a woman with simple desires, simple interests, simple love. This simplicity is exaggerated to the point of purity so much so that Felicite is meant to embody the Holy Spirit. Using free indirect discourse to align the...