Germinie Lacerteux · Chapter
LXVI explained
Mademoiselle de Varandeuil learns of Germinie's death at the Lariboisière hospital.
What happens
Mademoiselle de Varandeuil learns of Germinie's death at the Lariboisière hospital. She goes to the hospital, speaks with a Sister who describes Germinie's peaceful end, and then is led to identify the body in the amphitheater, where she sees Germinie's face in the coffin.
Themes in this chapter
Death and Decay
The chapter centers on Germinie's death, Mademoiselle's confrontation with mortality, and the stark imagery of the corpse in the amphitheater.
Female Suffering and Sacrifice
Germinie's quiet, unacknowledged death and Mademoiselle's grief underscore the sacrifices and suffering of women in service.
Characters to notice
- Mademoiselle de Varandeuil
Receives news of Germinie's death, goes to the hospital, speaks with the Sister, and identifies the body.
- Germinie Lacerteux
Reported dead at the hospital; her body is identified by Mademoiselle.
Key passages
“Germinie was dead; she died at seven o’clock that morning.”
Germinie had passed away at seven in the morning.
The moment Mademoiselle learns of Germinie's death.
“She hardly suffered at all... she passed away without knowing that she was dying.”
The Sister reported that Germinie experienced little pain and died unaware of her condition.
The Sister's account of Germinie's peaceful death.
“Mademoiselle saw nothing but a coffin, the lid of which extended only to the neck, leaving Germinie’s face uncovered, with the eyes open, and the hair erect upon her head.”
Mademoiselle saw Germinie's face in a coffin with the lid open to the neck, her eyes open and hair standing on end.
The haunting image of Germinie's corpse in the amphitheater.