Germinie Lacerteux · Chapter
XIV explained
Adèle reveals to Germinie that Mademoiselle de Varandeuil has taken a romantic interest in Jupillon, causing Germinie distress.
What happens
Adèle reveals to Germinie that Mademoiselle de Varandeuil has taken a romantic interest in Jupillon, causing Germinie distress. Adèle manipulates Germinie into writing a love letter for her own lover, exposing Germinie's secret feelings for Jupillon.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Secrecy
Adèle pretends to be friendly while manipulating Germinie to uncover her secret, and Mademoiselle's hidden romantic interest in Jupillon contrasts with her social standing.
Love and Obsession
Germinie's intense reaction to the news of Mademoiselle's interest in Jupillon reveals her own obsessive love for him.
Characters to notice
- Germinie Lacerteux
Germinie is distressed by Adèle's revelation about Mademoiselle's interest in Jupillon, and struggles to write a letter for Adèle.
- Adèle
Adèle gossips about Mademoiselle's infatuation with Jupillon, drinks absinthe, and manipulates Germinie into writing a love letter.
- Mademoiselle de Varandeuil
Mademoiselle is revealed to have taken a romantic interest in Jupillon, going to his shop under pretenses.
- Madame Jupillon
Madame Jupillon is mentioned as the mother of Jupillon, whose shop Mademoiselle visits.
Key passages
“Oh! you can sit down a minute, you know you can,” said Adèle, when she brought her the absinthe and the butter. “I never see you now, you’ll never come in. Come! you have plenty of time to be with your old woman.”
Adèle invites Germinie to stay and chat, criticizing Mademoiselle de Varandeuil as an 'old woman' and implying Germinie spends too much time with her.
Adèle's casual dismissal of Mademoiselle reflects the servants' disrespect for their employers.
“Yes, my dear, just fancy, here’s madame gone daft on that gamin of a Jupillon! That’s all we needed to make us die of hunger here!”
Adèle reveals that Mademoiselle has become infatuated with Jupillon, a young man from a lower class, which threatens the household's finances.
This revelation shocks Germinie and exposes the hypocrisy of Mademoiselle's behavior.
“At a gesture of denial from Germinie, she continued: “Nonsense, nonsense! What do I care? The kind of a child that, if you blew his nose, milk would come out! Thanks! that’s not my style. However, that’s your business.”
Adèle dismisses Germinie's denial of interest in Jupillon, mocking him as immature and implying Germinie's secret feelings.
Adèle's taunting reveals her awareness of Germinie's hidden love for Jupillon.