The Confession (Maupassant): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:26, 29 May 2023

Disclaimer: This summary was generated by AI, so it may contain errors.

The Confession

Summary of the Short Story

Microsummary: A strict, austere man confessed to his wife that he had been unfaithful during a drunken night, but instead of being upset, she found the situation amusing and laughed uncontrollably.

Captain Hector-Marie de Fontenne married Laurine d'Estelle, a charming and wealthy young woman. Laurine was known for her laughter and wit, while Hector was a serious and austere man.

👨🏻‍✈️

Captain Hector-Marie de Fontenne — austere, ingenuous, single-minded, and strict; husband of Laurine.

👩🏼

Laurine d'Estelle — pretty, slender, and self-possessed; charming, tactful, and quick-witted; wife of Captain de Fontenne.

They got along well, with Laurine often sharing stories of her charitable deeds with her husband.

One summer, Hector took part in military exercises and found himself drinking more than usual one evening. He became intoxicated and ended up spending the night with an actress. Overwhelmed with guilt, he confessed his sins to a priest and took the sacrament. However, he still felt a deep sense of remorse and believed he owed a confession to his wife as well.

When Laurine returned from visiting her parents, she noticed Hector's troubled demeanor and pressed him to share his secret. Reluctantly, he confessed his infidelity to her.

I confess to you as I would confess to a priest, Laurine.

Instead of reacting with anger or sadness, Laurine burst into uncontrollable laughter. She found the situation so amusing that she couldn't stop laughing, despite her husband's growing anger.

You… you… you have deceived me. Oh! oh! oh!

Hector, offended by Laurine's reaction, called her vulgar and stormed out of the room. Laurine, still laughing, continued to find the situation hilarious even as her laughter began to fade.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 | Literary form = short story
 | Year of publication =
-| Microsummary = A dying woman confessed to her sister that she had poisoned their sister's fiancé years ago out of jealousy, causing her lifelong guilt and torment.
+| Microsummary = A strict, austere man confessed to his wife that he had been unfaithful during a drunken night, but instead of being upset, she found the situation amusing and laughed uncontrollably.
 }}
 {{Start of text}}
-Marguerite de Thèrelles was on her deathbed, with her elder sister, Suzanne, sobbing by her side.
+Captain Hector-Marie de Fontenne married Laurine d'Estelle, a charming and wealthy young woman. Laurine was known for her laughter and wit, while Hector was a serious and austere man.
 {{Character
-| Name = Marguerite de Thèrelles
+| Name = Captain Hector-Marie de Fontenne
-| Description = younger sister; aged rapidly, often ill, tormented by guilt; self-sacrificing
+| Description = austere, ingenuous, single-minded, and strict; husband of Laurine
-| Emoji = 👩🏻‍🦳
+| Emoji = 👨🏻‍✈️
 }}
 {{Character
-| Name = Suzanne de Thèrelles
+| Name = Laurine d'Estelle
-| Description = elder sister; never married after fiancé's death; loving and devoted to her sister
+| Description = pretty, slender, and self-possessed; charming, tactful, and quick-witted; wife of Captain de Fontenne
-| Emoji = 👩🏻‍🦰
+| Emoji = 👩🏼
 }}
-The two sisters had a touching story; Suzanne had been engaged to a young man named Henry de Sampierre, but he died suddenly before they could marry. Marguerite, only twelve at the time, vowed to never marry and stay with her sister forever.
+They got along well, with Laurine often sharing stories of her charitable deeds with her husband.
-{{Quote
+One summer, Hector took part in military exercises and found himself drinking more than usual one evening. He became intoxicated and ended up spending the night with an actress. Overwhelmed with guilt, he confessed his sins to a priest and took the sacrament. However, he still felt a deep sense of remorse and believed he owed a confession to his wife as well.
-| Text = Sister, I don't want you to be unhappy. I don't want you to cry all your life long. I will never leave you, never, never! I won't marry either. I will stay with you forever and ever.
-| Context = Marguerite says this to Suzanne when they were young, after Suzanne's fiancé died. Marguerite promises to never marry and stay with her sister forever.
-}}
-They lived together all their lives, inseparable, but Marguerite seemed sadder and aged more rapidly.
+When Laurine returned from visiting her parents, she noticed Hector's troubled demeanor and pressed him to share his secret. Reluctantly, he confessed his infidelity to her.
-As Marguerite's death approached, a priest arrived to administer the last sacrament.
+{{Quote
+| Text = I confess to you as I would confess to a priest, Laurine.
-{{Character
+| Context = Captain de Fontenne is confessing his infidelity to his wife, Laurine, after she insists on knowing what is troubling him.
-| Name = Abbé Simon
-| Description = old priest; compassionate and understanding
-| Emoji = 🧔🏻‍♂️
 }}
-Marguerite began to confess a terrible secret to her sister. She revealed that she had been deeply jealous of Suzanne's relationship with Henry and had been unable to bear the thought of them marrying. In her jealousy, Marguerite had poisoned the cakes Suzanne made for Henry, causing his death. She had always been ill since then, and the thought of confessing her actions to Suzanne had tormented her throughout her life.
+Instead of reacting with anger or sadness, Laurine burst into uncontrollable laughter. She found the situation so amusing that she couldn't stop laughing, despite her husband's growing anger.
 {{Quote
-| Text = I said to myself: 'I will never leave my sister. And I will tell her all, in the hour of my death.'
+| Text = You… you… you have deceived me. Oh! oh! oh!
-| Context = Marguerite says this while confessing her terrible secret to Suzanne on her deathbed, revealing her lifelong torment and guilt.
+| Context = Laurine is laughing uncontrollably after hearing her husband's confession of infidelity, finding the situation amusing rather than upsetting.
 }}
-Suzanne, devastated by the revelation, thought of the happy life she could have had with Henry. However, as the priest urged her to forgive her sister, Suzanne tearfully embraced Marguerite and forgave her.
+Hector, offended by Laurine's reaction, called her vulgar and stormed out of the room. Laurine, still laughing, continued to find the situation hilarious even as her laughter began to fade.
 {{End of text}}