Germinie Lacerteux · Chapter
Chapter XX explained
Germinie, despite suffering the first pains of childbirth, forces herself to prepare and serve Mademoiselle de Varandeuil's annual Twelfth Night dinner.
What happens
Germinie, despite suffering the first pains of childbirth, forces herself to prepare and serve Mademoiselle de Varandeuil's annual Twelfth Night dinner. After the meal, she secretly leaves for La Maternité hospital, giving Jupillon the forty francs intended for the midwife. At the hospital, she gives birth to a little girl but soon finds herself in the midst of a deadly puerperal epidemic, witnessing deaths around her. A young pupil-assistant offers her comfort and advice to leave, but Germinie, overwhelmed by fear and presentiment of death, struggles to hold on to life.
Themes in this chapter
Female Suffering and Sacrifice
Germinie endures immense physical pain and emotional sacrifice, hiding her labor to serve her mistress's dinner and giving her midwife money to Jupillon.
Death and Decay
The chapter vividly depicts the horrors of the puerperal epidemic at La Maternité, with women dying agonizing deaths around Germinie.
Love and Obsession
Germinie's continued devotion to Jupillon is evident as she gives him the money meant for her own care, despite his selfishness.
Characters to notice
- Germinie Lacerteux
Endures childbirth pains while preparing the Twelfth Night dinner, then goes to La Maternité to give birth, where she faces a deadly epidemic.
- Mademoiselle de Varandeuil
Hosts her annual Twelfth Night dinner, notices Germinie's illness but is unaware of her true condition.
- Adèle
Assists Germinie by providing rouge and calling a cab, and is sworn to secrecy about Germinie's departure.
- Madame Jupillon
Not directly present, but her son Jupillon appears and takes the midwife money from Germinie.
Key passages
“She was determined to live, and she clung to her strength by thinking of her child and of mademoiselle.”
Germinie resolved to survive by focusing on her newborn and her mistress.
Shows her will to live despite the epidemic.
“She went down to Adèle: 'Give me your mistress's rouge,' she said. And she put some on her cheeks.”
Germinie borrowed rouge from Adèle to hide her pallor from the dinner guests.
Illustrates her effort to conceal her suffering.