A Simple Soul

Gustave Flaubert was a French novelist born in 1821. He played a major role in the "realist school" in French literature. His best-known work was Madame Bovary, which led to a trial on the novel's alleged immorality. A Simple Soul is the story of Madame Aubain who was envied by her neighbors for her maid Felicite who worked very hard for her for a small wage. When Madame became a widow she was forced to move back to her ancestral home. This simple tale captures the attitudes of Felicite toward her domestic servitude. Flaubert's work addresses the views of the upper and middle classes towards the working class. The servants in their homes were objectified. Felicite's tale will strike a chord with many readers who find themselves in jobs they dislike.