# Félicité — Short Fiction character guide

> Félicité in Short Fiction by Gustave Flaubert.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0005-a-simple-soul

## Snapshot

A servant whose whole heart belongs to others—her mistress's children, a pet parrot, and the saints—finding in small devotions an entire life's meaning.

## Who they are

Félicité runs Madame Aubain's household with quiet authority, turning away importunate visitors and steering children past a fog-hidden bull with a murmured lament and a steady hand on an ox's back. Her only literary education comes from an engraved geography Paul explains to her, and her faith fastens onto whatever is nearest—processions, candles, a parrot she half-believes resembles the Holy Ghost. Her unshakable devotion, offered to creatures who cannot fully return it, gives the story its tender and quietly devastating center.

## In the story

### [The Dance of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/the-dance-of-death)

Not present in this chapter.

### [The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/the-legend-of-saint-julian-the-hospitaller)

Not present in this chapter.

### [I: The Curse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/i-the-curse)

Not present in this chapter.

### [II: The Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/ii-the-crime)

Not present in this chapter.

### [III: The Reparation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/iii-the-reparation)

Not present in this chapter.

### [A Simple Soul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/a-simple-soul)

The protagonist, a simple and devoted servant.

### [I: Félicité](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/i-f-licit)

Introduced as the faithful servant of Madame Aubain, known for her hard work, frugality, and unwavering loyalty.

### [II: The Heroine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/ii-the-heroine)

Begins service for Madame Aubain, cares for the children, and heroically protects the family from a bull.

### [III: Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/iii-death)

Deepens her religious devotion, accompanies Virginia to church, mourns Virginia's death, and learns of Victor's death.

### [IV: The Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/iv-the-bird)

Grows increasingly isolated; her only companion is the parrot Loulou, whom she treats like a son or lover. After Loulou's death, she has him stuffed and venerates him, blending his image with the Holy Ghost.

### [V: The Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/v-the-vision)

In her death agony, Félicité hallucinates the procession and asks about Loulou before dying.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/characters/felicite
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/characters