Patriarchy
The novella portrays the society as a patriarchal one as the women are expected to honor their husbands unreservedly. The basis of the plot stems from the fact that Bertrande has to defend her virtues to society and her husband for betraying him. However, the husband Guerre is not probed for choosing his vocation over his family for years. Therefore the narrative finds the women at a disadvantage compared to their male counterparts.
Loyalty
The question of loyalty is at the center of this tale since Bertrande’s loyalty is tested on a personal and public level. The impostor is emotionally available and generous, unlike her real husband which is the first test of her loyalty. This dilemma presented to her after she is suspicious of his true identity is whether to uphold her loyalty or not. Her real husband is abusive and less caring thus her loyalty is a source of a major moral quandary in the tale.
Identity
The idea of identity is explored from the notion of what traits define us and whether our personalities are bound to stay the same. The initial suspicion of the impostor stems from the change of personality that Guerre has undergone. Therefore, the hunt for the true identity becomes the conflict in the narrative as the impostor is exposed.
Truth
The pursuit of truth begins in the private sphere shortly after Bertrande is suspicious about her impostor husband. Consequently, the situation turns into a courtroom drama and the search for truth is taken to the public sphere. Furthermore, the novella explores the matter of subjective reality and circumstantial evidence. In essence, if the mind is willing to indulge a lie, then the lie can become the truth. Thus, the quest for truth becomes even harder as the aspect of perspective comes into play.
Marriage
The tale delves into the perception of marriage and the actual realities of marital relationships. The human drama initiates after the marital home becomes tranquil and affectionate which raises the wife’s doubts. Generally, marital relationships entail occasional conflicts and disagreements, aspects the impostor failed to integrate. Therefore, the impostor embodies the idealized nature of marriage that is for the most part nonexistent.
