# Saint Julian — Short Fiction character guide

> Saint Julian in Short Fiction by Gustave Flaubert.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Julian, Saint Julian the Hospitaller

**First appearance:** 0001-the-legend-of-saint-julian-the-hospitaller

## Snapshot

A nobleman's son marked by a gipsy's prophecy of bloodshed and glory, raised in brocaded luxury yet destined to become both killer and saint.

## Who they are

Julian grows up adored as a child touched by heaven, his cradle lined with feathers and a dove-lamp burning above him, while his parents secretly treasure a prophecy of great bloodshed and great glory. Trained in horsemanship, Scripture, and the art of vellum painting, he listens wide-eyed to warriors' tales of battles and frightful wounds, convinced he will one day be a conqueror. That very devotion and appetite for glory will collide with the darker fate pronounced over him, driving the story toward its reckoning.

## 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)

Protagonist of the legend; from birth through his violent deeds, marriage, parricide, penance, and final redemption.

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

The young protagonist, born under prophecies of sainthood and parricide, struggles with a curse that leads him to accidentally harm his parents and ultimately flee.

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

Julian, tormented by his hunting desires, goes into the forest but fails to kill any animals. Returning home, he mistakenly murders his own parents in their bed.

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

Julian becomes a ferryman, performs acts of penance, and ultimately ascends to heaven after sheltering and warming a leper who is revealed as Christ.

## Links

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