# XXXIX explained — Germinie Lacerteux

> Chapter companion for Germinie Lacerteux by Edmond de Goncourt.

## What happens

Germinie's mental and physical decline becomes evident as she grows stupid, slovenly, and neglectful of her duties. Her memory fails, her conversation dulls, and she abandons personal cleanliness, causing Mademoiselle de Varandeuil to notice the degradation and reluctantly tolerate the squalor.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and Decay

Germinie's physical and mental decay, along with the accumulating dust and neglect in the apartment, symbolize a living death and the erosion of former vitality.

### Female Suffering and Sacrifice

Germinie's decline is portrayed as a form of suffering, while Mademoiselle de Varandeuil sacrifices her own comfort and standards to accommodate her maid's condition.

## Character check-ins

### Germinie Lacerteux

Shows marked mental and physical deterioration: memory loss, slovenliness, and neglect of household duties.

### Mademoiselle de Varandeuil

Observes Germinie's decline with concern and resignation, occasionally attempting to spur her to action but ultimately tolerating the neglect.

## Key lines

> Then it was that Germinie’s abasement and degradation began to be visible in her personal appearance, to make her stupid and slovenly.

At this point, Germinie's decline became outwardly apparent through her careless dress and dulled mind.

_Introduces the chapter's focus on visible deterioration._

> An odor of poverty, rank and musty, arose from her. Sometimes it was so strong that Mademoiselle de Varandeuil could not refrain from saying to her: “Go and change your clothes, my girl—you smell of the poor!”

A stale smell of destitution clung to Germinie, prompting Mademoiselle to tell her to change clothes because she smelled like a pauper.

_Highlights the social stigma of poverty and the mistress's direct comment._

> She had reduced her mistress’s breakfast and dinner to the simplest dishes, those which she could cook most easily and quickly.

Germinie simplified the meals she prepared for Mademoiselle, choosing only the quickest and easiest dishes.

_Illustrates Germinie's neglect of her duties and her mistress's accommodation._

## Links

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