"A novelist has no right to express an opinion on anything."
Flaubert was a Realist. Realism centers around scientific objectivity, which includes respecting reality, observation, and documentation. Realists are impersonal and impartial in their writing, and they do not judge their characters.
"At twenty-five, she looked forty. By the age of fifty she no longer marked any age, -- and, always silent, straight waist and automatic gestures, seemed like a woman made of wood, functioning in an automatic manner."
Felicite has never known anything but hard work. After the episode in which Theodore leaves her for another woman, she becomes a "femme en bois", or a woman made of wood. This paints Felicite as unemotional, unaffected, and serious. She will never have a real love story, as her sentimental life comes to an end after the hopes of a life of higher status vanish with Theodore.
"She was not innocent in the manner of the young ladies, - the animals had instructed her; but reason and instinct prevented it."
This quote refers to the fact that Felicite does not want a physical relationship with Theodore. Although she has not been raised religiously and does not know about sexual relationships other than those of animals, she still does not think a physical relationship is right for her. This all at once shows Felicite's ignorance of the way the world works, but also that she is capable of making reasonable decisions.
"She could scarcely imagine this person; For he was not only a bird, but a fire, and at other times a breath. As for the dogmas, she understood nothing, did not even try to understand..."
Felicite has never experienced church service before, and only does now because she acts as Virginia's caretaker. When she begins to understand who God is, her grasp on His presence is only physical. She cannot understand the deeper aspects of religion, and does not make an effort to. Felicite understands the lamb in the church service only in terms of actuals lambs, and cannot comprehend the metaphors that accompany religious service. This depicts Felicite's simple heart and mind, as the title of the short story suggests.
"Felicite drew no pride from it, not even suspecting that she had done anything heroic."
After the episode in which Felicite confronts the bull threatening the Aubain family, Felicite does not understand that her actions were courageous. For her, protecting the Mme. Aubain and her children is simply her job, even if that means that Felicite sacrifices her safety.
"Loulou, in her isolation, was almost a son, a lover."
The relationship between Felicite and her pet parrot, Loulou, is bizarre and perhaps incestuous. It is a highly debated topic among literary scholars. In Felicite's mind, Loulou becomes what she needs, as she has no one else to love. Felicite never has a lover or children, and the bird takes on those roles simultaneously. The death of Loulou contributes to Felicite's physical and mental degradation.
"...and, when she exhaled her last breath, she thought she saw a gigantic parrot hovering above her head in the half-open heavens."
Felicite's fragile mental state at the end of the short story is almost palpable. The parrot, Loulou, has become so important to Felicite that she has confused him with the Holy Spirit and sees him in the gates of heaven. Towards the end of her burdened life, the bird had been the one object of consolation for her.
