Bed No. 29 (Maupassant): Difference between revisions

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{{Summary
{{Summary
| Title = Bed No. 29
| Title = BED NO. 29
| Subtitle =
| Original Title = Le Lit 29
| Author = Guy de Maupassant
| Author = Guy de Maupassant
| Literary form = short story
| Literary form = short story
| Year of publication =  
| Year of publication = 1884
| Microsummary = A handsome officer visited his former lover in a hospital, only to discover she had contracted syphilis from Prussian soldiers and sought revenge by infecting them in return.
| Microsummary = Officer had affair with woman. War came. She got disease from enemies and infected them back. He was disgusted. She accused him of cowardice before dying. His reputation was ruined among peers.
| Emoji = 🛏️
}}
}}


{{Start of text}}
{{Start of text}}


Captain Épivent was a handsome hussar officer who was admired by many women. He had a reputation for being a ladies' man and was envied by his fellow officers. One day, he met a beautiful woman named Irma, who was the mistress of a rich manufacturer.
== Short Summary ==
 
France, late 19th century. Captain Epivent, a handsome officer of hussars, was known for his conquests with women. He began a relationship with Irma, a beautiful young woman in Rouen.


{{Character
{{Character
| Name = Captain Épivent
| Name = Captain Epivent
| Description = narrator; handsome hussar officer; proud, scornful, and successful with women
| Description = handsome officer of hussars, around 30-40 years old, bald with heavy blond mustache, thin waist, muscular chest and legs, proud and vain, known for his conquests with women
| Emoji = 💂🏻‍♂️
| Emoji = 👨‍✈️
}}
}}
When war broke out, Epivent left for the front. Upon his return, he learned Irma was in the hospital. He visited her, discovering she had contracted syphilis from Prussian soldiers during the occupation. Irma claimed she had deliberately infected the Prussians as an act of revenge.


{{Character
{{Character
| Name = Irma Pavolin
| Name = Irma
| Description = Captain Épivent's former lover; once beautiful, now ill with syphilis; vengeful, determined
| Description = young woman, Captain Epivent's mistress, initially beautiful and fresh, later ill and emaciated in hospital, passionate and vengeful towards Prussians
| Emoji = 👩🏻‍🦰
| Emoji = 👩
}}
}}


They quickly became lovers and were inseparable for a year until war broke out and Captain Épivent's regiment was sent to the front.
Epivent, disgusted and ashamed, tried to distance himself from Irma. However, she continued to write to him. On her deathbed, Irma confronted Epivent about his cowardice and boasted about her actions against the Prussians.


During the war, Captain Épivent fought bravely and was awarded a medal for his heroism. When he returned to Rouen, he sought out Irma but could not find her. Eventually, he received a letter from her saying that she was in the hospital and very ill. He visited her and found her in the syphilis ward, looking thin and pale. She told him that she had contracted the disease from the Prussian soldiers who had occupied Rouen during the war.
{{Quote|
Ah, yes, you are a pretty poser! I know you well. I know you. And I tell you that I have done more harm than you — I — and that I have killed more than all your regiment together. Come now, you coward.
}}


{{Quote
Overwhelmed by her accusations and the situation, Epivent fled the hospital. The next day, he learned of Irma's death. The story ended with Epivent's reputation tarnished among his fellow officers, who mocked him for his association with Irma.
| Text = It was those beasts of Prussians. They took me almost by force and then poisoned me.
 
| Context = Irma explains to Captain Épivent how she contracted syphilis, blaming the Prussian soldiers for her condition and revealing her desire for revenge.
== Detailed Summary ==
 
''The division of the summary into chapters is conditional.''
 
=== Captain Epivent's Reputation and Lifestyle ===
 
Captain Epivent was a handsome officer of hussars who attracted attention wherever he went.
 
{{Quote|
Captain Epivent passed in the street all the ladies turned to look at him. He was the true type of a handsome officer of hussars. He was always on parade, always strutted a little and seemed preoccupied and proud of his leg
}}
}}


Captain Épivent was disgusted and ashamed, but he promised to visit her again. However, when he returned to his regiment, his fellow officers mocked him for his relationship with Irma. He received another letter from her, but he ignored it. Finally, he received a letter from a chaplain at the hospital, saying that Irma was on her deathbed and begging him to come.
He was known for his conquests with women and his disdain for civilians. Captain Epivent held a particular scorn for the middle class and valued only handsome, imposing officers.


He reluctantly went to the hospital and found Irma still alive but very weak. She told him that she had purposely infected the Prussian soldiers with syphilis as a form of revenge.
{{Quote|
He scorned everybody in general, with a difference in the degrees of his scorn. In the first place, for him the middle class did not exist. He looked at them as he would look at animals, without according them more of his attention
}}


{{Quote
=== The Affair with Irma ===
| Text = Ah! yes, you are a pretty poser! I know you well. I know you. And I tell you that I have done them more harm than you, I, yes, more harm to them than you, and I am going to die for it, while you are singing songs and making yourself fine to inveigle women.
 
| Context = This quote is from Irma, as she confronts Captain Épivent in the hospital. She argues that she has done more harm to the Prussians than he has, and she is going to die for her actions.
When Captain Epivent's regiment came to Rouen, he quickly became known in the town. He attracted the attention of Irma, a beautiful woman said to be the mistress of a rich manufacturer. They began a passionate affair that lasted for a year, openly displaying their relationship in public.
 
When war was declared, Captain Epivent's regiment was sent to the front. The couple's farewell was emotional and dramatic. During the campaign, the captain conducted himself heroically and received the Cross of Honor.
 
=== Return to Rouen and Discovery of Irma's Fate ===
 
Upon returning to Rouen after the war, Captain Epivent inquired about Irma but received no definite information. One day, he received a letter from her.
 
{{Quote|
My Dearie: I am in the hospital very ill, very ill. Will you not come and see me? It would give me so much pleasure! Irma.
}}
 
The captain visited Irma in the hospital, where he discovered she was in the syphilis ward. Irma explained her condition to him.
 
{{Quote|
It was those beasts of Prussians. They took me almost by force and then poisoned me... I do not believe that I shall recover. The doctor says it is very serious.
}}
}}


Captain Épivent was horrified and left the hospital, never to see Irma again. The next day, he learned that she had died.
She then revealed her vengeful actions against the Prussians.
 
{{Quote|
No, the desire to avenge myself came to me when I should have broken away from it. And I poisoned them, too, all, all that I could. As long as there were any of them in Rouen, I had no thought for myself.
}}
 
=== The Captain's Reaction and Aftermath ===
 
Captain Epivent was shocked and disgusted by Irma's condition and her actions. He struggled to maintain his composure during the visit and left as quickly as he could.
 
{{Quote|
He went away; in fact, he fled, stretching his long legs as he passed between the two rows of beds where the syphilitic patients were becoming excited. And he heard the gasping, stifled voice of Irma pursuing him
}}
 
The next day, Captain Epivent learned that Irma had died. His regiment discovered the truth about his relationship with Irma, and he became the subject of jokes and ridicule. The captain was left to deal with the consequences of his affair and the stark reality of war's impact on those left behind.
 
{{Character
| Name = Colonel Prune
| Description = captain's superior officer, middle-aged or older man, twice wounded in war
| Emoji = 👨‍✈️
}}
 
{{Character
| Name = M. Templier-Papon
| Description = rich manufacturer, Irma's former lover
| Emoji = 🧔
}}
 
{{Character
| Name = Hospital Chaplain
| Description = religious figure at the hospital, sends a note to Captain Epivent about Irma's condition
| Emoji = 👨‍🦳
}}


{{End of text}}
{{End of text}}

Revision as of 15:21, 22 October 2024

Disclaimer: This summary was generated by AI, so it may contain errors.
🛏️
BED NO. 29
Le Lit 29 · 1884
Summary of the Short Story
Microsummary: Officer had affair with woman. War came. She got disease from enemies and infected them back. He was disgusted. She accused him of cowardice before dying. His reputation was ruined among peers.

Short Summary

France, late 19th century. Captain Epivent, a handsome officer of hussars, was known for his conquests with women. He began a relationship with Irma, a beautiful young woman in Rouen.

👨‍✈️
Captain Epivent — handsome officer of hussars, around 30-40 years old, bald with heavy blond mustache, thin waist, muscular chest and legs, proud and vain, known for his conquests with women.

When war broke out, Epivent left for the front. Upon his return, he learned Irma was in the hospital. He visited her, discovering she had contracted syphilis from Prussian soldiers during the occupation. Irma claimed she had deliberately infected the Prussians as an act of revenge.

👩
Irma — young woman, Captain Epivent's mistress, initially beautiful and fresh, later ill and emaciated in hospital, passionate and vengeful towards Prussians.

Epivent, disgusted and ashamed, tried to distance himself from Irma. However, she continued to write to him. On her deathbed, Irma confronted Epivent about his cowardice and boasted about her actions against the Prussians.

Ah, yes, you are a pretty poser! I know you well. I know you. And I tell you that I have done more harm than you — I — and that I have killed more than all your regiment together. Come now, you coward.

Overwhelmed by her accusations and the situation, Epivent fled the hospital. The next day, he learned of Irma's death. The story ended with Epivent's reputation tarnished among his fellow officers, who mocked him for his association with Irma.

Detailed Summary

The division of the summary into chapters is conditional.

Captain Epivent's Reputation and Lifestyle

Captain Epivent was a handsome officer of hussars who attracted attention wherever he went.

Captain Epivent passed in the street all the ladies turned to look at him. He was the true type of a handsome officer of hussars. He was always on parade, always strutted a little and seemed preoccupied and proud of his leg

He was known for his conquests with women and his disdain for civilians. Captain Epivent held a particular scorn for the middle class and valued only handsome, imposing officers.

He scorned everybody in general, with a difference in the degrees of his scorn. In the first place, for him the middle class did not exist. He looked at them as he would look at animals, without according them more of his attention

The Affair with Irma

When Captain Epivent's regiment came to Rouen, he quickly became known in the town. He attracted the attention of Irma, a beautiful woman said to be the mistress of a rich manufacturer. They began a passionate affair that lasted for a year, openly displaying their relationship in public.

When war was declared, Captain Epivent's regiment was sent to the front. The couple's farewell was emotional and dramatic. During the campaign, the captain conducted himself heroically and received the Cross of Honor.

Return to Rouen and Discovery of Irma's Fate

Upon returning to Rouen after the war, Captain Epivent inquired about Irma but received no definite information. One day, he received a letter from her.

My Dearie: I am in the hospital very ill, very ill. Will you not come and see me? It would give me so much pleasure! Irma.

The captain visited Irma in the hospital, where he discovered she was in the syphilis ward. Irma explained her condition to him.

It was those beasts of Prussians. They took me almost by force and then poisoned me... I do not believe that I shall recover. The doctor says it is very serious.

She then revealed her vengeful actions against the Prussians.

No, the desire to avenge myself came to me when I should have broken away from it. And I poisoned them, too, all, all that I could. As long as there were any of them in Rouen, I had no thought for myself.

The Captain's Reaction and Aftermath

Captain Epivent was shocked and disgusted by Irma's condition and her actions. He struggled to maintain his composure during the visit and left as quickly as he could.

He went away; in fact, he fled, stretching his long legs as he passed between the two rows of beds where the syphilitic patients were becoming excited. And he heard the gasping, stifled voice of Irma pursuing him

The next day, Captain Epivent learned that Irma had died. His regiment discovered the truth about his relationship with Irma, and he became the subject of jokes and ridicule. The captain was left to deal with the consequences of his affair and the stark reality of war's impact on those left behind.

👨‍✈️
Colonel Prune — captain's superior officer, middle-aged or older man, twice wounded in war.
🧔
M. Templier-Papon — rich manufacturer, Irma's former lover.
👨‍🦳
Hospital Chaplain — religious figure at the hospital, sends a note to Captain Epivent about Irma's condition.