← All themes
The Celibates · Theme
Social Class and Ambition
How The Celibates develops Social Class and Ambition.
Class distinctions and the pursuit of status are central, with characters like the proletarian Brigaut and the clerical figures striving for advancement, while the narrative critiques the rigid social hierarchy of provincial France.
Where it surfaces
- A Bachelor's Establishment
Philippe's ambition to become a general and peer of France drives his manipulation, and Flore's marriage to Rouget elevates her social status.