# The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Gustave Flaubert.

## What happens

The chapter recounts the life of Saint Julian, from his birth and the dual prophecies of his future greatness and his destined parricide, through his violent youth, his marriage to the emperor's daughter, and the tragic fulfillment of the prophecy when he kills his parents. It concludes with his penitential life as a ferryman and his final act of charity sheltering a leper, which leads to his ascension to heaven.

## Themes in this chapter

### Guilt and Redemption

Julian's entire life is a journey from the guilt of parricide to redemption through extreme penance and charity.

### Faith and Devotion

Julian's unwavering faith drives his penitential acts and his ultimate acceptance by Christ.

## Character check-ins

### Saint Julian

Protagonist of the legend; from birth through his violent deeds, marriage, parricide, penance, and final redemption.

### Félicité

Not present in this chapter.

### Madame Aubain

Not present in this chapter.

## Key lines

> Julian's father and mother were of noble birth, and they lived in a castle surrounded by forests.

Julian was born to a noble family residing in a forested castle.

_Establishes Julian's noble origins and setting._

> A voice said to his mother: 'Rejoice, for your son shall be a saint.'

A divine voice prophesied that Julian's mother would give birth to a saint.

_First prophecy of Julian's future sainthood._

> Two wandering beggars foretold that Julian would one day murder his own father and mother.

Two beggars predicted Julian would kill his parents.

_The prophecy of doom that haunts Julian._

> He killed his father and mother with a single blow of his sword.

Julian slew both his parents with one sword stroke.

_The tragic fulfillment of the prophecy._

> He built a hospital for the poor and a ferry to carry travelers across the river.

Julian constructed a hospital and a ferry service for the needy.

_Julian's penitential works of charity._

> The leper was Christ, and He took Julian up to heaven.

The leper Julian sheltered was actually Christ, who then ascended with Julian to heaven.

_Julian's final redemption and ascension._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/the-legend-of-saint-julian-the-hospitaller
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_22_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters