# XVII explained — Gil Blas

> Chapter companion for Gil Blas by Alain-René Lesage.

## What happens

Gil Blas, after being tricked and robbed in the ready-furnished lodging, resolves to bear up against his ill fate. He sells his boots, learns that his mules have been stolen by Ambrose, and decides against returning to Doña Mencía. He discovers his ruby ring is worth only three ducats. He then meets his old schoolfellow Fabricio, who persuades him to become a lackey instead of a tutor. Fabricio takes him to a broker of servants' places, and they go to the house of the Licentiate Sédillo, where a position is available.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

Fabricio describes how he out-cozens the cozener by pretending to be as hypocritical as his master, and Gil Blas is tricked by the women and the false ring.

### Social Class and Mobility

Gil Blas considers becoming a tutor or a lackey, highlighting the limited paths for social advancement available to him.

### Hypocrisy and Satire

Fabricio's description of his master's pretended sanctity and his own manipulation of it satirizes religious hypocrisy and the servant-master dynamic.

## Character check-ins

### Gil Blas

After being robbed, he considers his options and meets Fabricio, who convinces him to become a lackey.

### Fabricio

Gil Blas's old schoolfellow, now a lackey to a hypocritical governor, who persuades Gil Blas to enter service.

### Ambrose de Lamela

Mentioned as having stolen Gil Blas's mules overnight.

### Dame Jacintha

The old hypocritical housekeeper of the Licentiate Sédillo, who is complete mistress of the family.

## Key lines

> I am still in luck that the knaves have not carried off my clothes and what little money I had in my pocket.

Gil Blas consoles himself that the thieves left him his clothes and some money.

_Gil Blas's attempt to find a silver lining after being robbed._

> I made a vow too for the future to be on my guard against women.

He resolves to be wary of women in the future.

_Gil Blas's reaction to being tricked by the women in the lodging._

> A superior genius, when he gets a service, does not go about it like a lumpish simpleton. He enters into a family as viceroy over the master, not as an inferior minister.

A clever servant doesn't act like a fool; he becomes the real ruler of the household, not a lowly helper.

_Fabricio's philosophy on how a smart lackey should manipulate his master._

## Links

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