The Confession (Maupassant): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:13, 29 May 2023

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The Confession

Summary of the Short Story

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.

Marguerite de Thèrelles was on her deathbed, with her elder sister, Suzanne, sobbing by her side.

👩🏻‍🦳

Marguerite de Thèrelles — younger sister; aged rapidly, often ill, tormented by guilt; self-sacrificing.

👩🏻‍🦰

Suzanne de Thèrelles — elder sister; never married after fiancé's death; loving and devoted to her sister.

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.

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.

They lived together all their lives, inseparable, but Marguerite seemed sadder and aged more rapidly.

As Marguerite's death approached, a priest arrived to administer the last sacrament.

🧔🏻‍♂️

Abbé Simon — old priest; compassionate and understanding.

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.

I said to myself: 'I will never leave my sister. And I will tell her all, in the hour of my death.'

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.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 | Literary form = short story
 | Year of publication =
-| Microsummary = A man confessed to attempting to kill his illegitimate child by exposing him to the cold, but ultimately regretted his actions and suffered immense guilt when the child later died of illness.
+| 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.
 }}
 {{Start of text}}
-A man, known for his honesty, passed away and left behind two children, a son and a daughter. After his funeral, the children and their son-in-law, Monsieur Poirel de la Voulte, gathered to read his will.
+Marguerite de Thèrelles was on her deathbed, with her elder sister, Suzanne, sobbing by her side.
 {{Character
-| Name = Monsieur Poirel de la Voulte
+| Name = Marguerite de Thèrelles
-| Description = narrator's son-in-law; a lawyer; practical, serious
+| Description = younger sister; aged rapidly, often ill, tormented by guilt; self-sacrificing
-| Emoji = 👨🏻‍💻
+| Emoji = 👩🏻‍🦳
 }}
-In the will, the man confessed to a terrible crime he committed when he was 26 years old and living in Paris. He had taken a mistress and she became pregnant. He was unhappy about the situation and secretly wished for the child to die before it was born. However, the child was born and the man found himself trapped in a life he didn't want. He fell in love with another woman and wanted to marry her, but he knew her strict parents would never approve if they knew about his illegitimate child.
+{{Character
+| Name = Suzanne de Thèrelles
+| Description = elder sister; never married after fiancé's death; loving and devoted to her sister
+| Emoji = 👩🏻‍🦰
+}}
-One cold December night, the man opened the window in the room where his child slept, hoping the freezing air would kill the baby. He eventually closed the window, filled with guilt and horror at what he had done.
+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.
 {{Quote
-| Text = I felt it there in my head, in my heart, in my whole body; it devoured me like a wild beast.
+| 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 = The narrator describes the overwhelming guilt and torment he experienced after attempting to kill his illegitimate child. This quote highlights the intensity of his emotions.
+| 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.
+As Marguerite's death approached, a priest arrived to administer the last sacrament.
+{{Character
+| Name = Abbé Simon
+| Description = old priest; compassionate and understanding
+| Emoji = 🧔🏻‍♂️
 }}
-The child became ill and the man sent for a doctor, who diagnosed the baby with inflammation of the lungs. The child eventually died, and the man was haunted by his actions for the rest of his life.
+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.
 {{Quote
-| Text = I could not rest quietly in my last sleep did I not make this confession to you from beyond the grave.
+| Text = I said to myself: 'I will never leave my sister. And I will tell her all, in the hour of my death.'
-| Context = This quote is from the beginning of the narrator's confession, which he left for his children to read after his death. It sets the tone for the rest of the story.
+| Context = Marguerite says this while confessing her terrible secret to Suzanne on her deathbed, revealing her lifelong torment and guilt.
 }}
-After reading the confession, the family decided to burn the pages containing the man's secret. They watched the pages burn and the daughter crushed the ashes to ensure the secret would never be revealed.
+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.
 {{End of text}}