# Simon Bombard — Short Fiction character guide

> Simon Bombard in Short Fiction by Guy de Maupassant.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Simon, little Simon, Prosper Bombard, M. Simon Bombard, Bombard

**First appearance:** 0039-simon-s-father

## Snapshot

A fatherless boy in a poor Normandy family whose Sunday walks to watch the steamers keep alive a fragile hope that Uncle Jules will return rich from America.

## Who they are

Simon grows up hearing his father ask, at every returning steamer, 'What a surprise it would be if Jules were on that one!' The family's gospel is Uncle Jules's letter promising to return with a fortune, and every plan—even a little house near Ingouville—rests on that hope. Simon's sisters remain unmarried, the household pinches, and the boy absorbs both the shame of a disreputable uncle and the stubborn faith that he will one day redeem them all.

## In the story

### [Simon's Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/simon-s-father)

The young boy who is bullied for having no father; he seeks a father figure and finds one in Philip.

### [André’s Disease](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/andr-s-disease)

André, the infant son of Mathilde and the lawyer, who is repeatedly pinched by the Captain.

### [The Little One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/the-little-one)

The spoiled, willful son of Monsieur Lemonnier, who is revealed to be the biological child of Monsieur Duretour.

### [A Sale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/a-sale)

Defendant Cornu, a publican, who agrees to buy Brument's wife and participates in the drowning attempt.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/vi)

Maze, the handsome colleague, becomes a cautious friend to Lesable and accepts a dinner invitation.

### [Yvette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/yvette)

A character interacting with Yvette, highlighting the dynamics of courtship and social maneuvering.

### [Bombard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/bombard)

Protagonist; a lazy, pleasure-seeking Norman who marries for money and schemes to satisfy his desires.

### [The Woodcocks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/the-woodcocks)

The elder d'Orgemol brother, who predicts the arrival of woodcocks based on wind and frost.

### [A Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/a-family)

The narrator's old friend, now a stout, contented provincial family man with five children.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/iii)

Emile, the five-year-old son of the elder Hautot and Mademoiselle Donet, is present and plays with César.

### [In Port](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/in-port)

The sailor who returns to port and finds his fiancée married to another.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/characters/simon_bombard
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/characters