A Simple Soul by Gustave Flaubert
The novel revolves around the life of a young woman who marries an older man for financial security and stability. She struggles with her own desires and aspirations, which are stifled by societal expectations and her husband's controlling nature. The story explores themes of love, marriage, and the constraints placed on women during that era.
By Gustave Flaubert · First published 1876 · Genre: Realism, Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction · 5 chapters · 14,061 words
First lines
For half a century the housewives of Pont-l'Eveque had envied Madame Aubain her servant Felicite.
For a hundred francs a year, she cooked and did the housework, washed, ironed, mended, harnessed the horse, fattened the poultry, made the butter and remained faithful to her mistress -- although the latter was by no means an agreeable person.
What this Textopian page supports
A Simple Soul is listed on Textopian as a novella by Gustave Flaubert, dated 1876 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Gustave Flaubert
- Date: 1876 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 14,061 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 218 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Simple Soul by Gustave Flaubert
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Simple Soul?
- How does this novella by Gustave Flaubert fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realism first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Realism — The narrative focuses on the detailed depiction of everyday life and the protagonist's experiences, characteristic of the Realist movement.
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of human emotion and social observation, typical of literary fiction.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the inner life and emotional struggles of the main character, aligning with psychological fiction.
- Short Story — The work is structured as a concise narrative, fitting the short story genre.
Tags
Realism · Psychological fiction · French literature · 19th century novel · Social commentary · Moral ambiguity · Human nature · Societal critique · Marriage dynamics · Family relationships · Love story · Romance