# Chapter XX explained — Germinie Lacerteux

> Chapter companion for Germinie Lacerteux by Edmond de Goncourt.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xx
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters