# Loulou — Short Fiction character guide

> Loulou in Short Fiction by Gustave Flaubert.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** poor Loulou

**First appearance:** 0009-iv-the-bird

## Snapshot

Félicité's parrot, whose scarlet wings and emerald body become entangled in her prayers until the Holy Ghost itself seems to wear his shape.

## Who they are

Loulou is the creature Félicité loves most purely, and in her solitude she hangs his image beside a picture of the baptism of Christ, where the parrot's likeness to the Holy Ghost strikes her as unmistakable. She turns toward the bird even while saying her prayers, and in her final delirium asks only whether he is all right. His small, vivid presence sanctifies her humble faith and gives the story its most piercing symbol of devotion.

## Relationships

### [Madame Aubain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/characters/madame_aubain)

_social_

Loulou is a parrot owned by Madame Aubain's household, tolerated but not deeply cherished by her.

### [Madame Aubain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/characters/madame_aubain)

_social_

Loulou is a parrot owned by Madame Aubain's household, tolerated but not deeply cherished by her.

## In the story

### [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)

Félicité's beloved pet parrot.

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

Félicité's parrot, who imitates household sounds and converses with her. Dies of congestion (or suspected poisoning) and is later stuffed, becoming a quasi-religious relic in Félicité's room.

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

The stuffed parrot is placed on the altar among flowers, and Félicité envisions a gigantic parrot as she dies.

## Links

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