# III explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Guy de Maupassant.

## What happens

Labarbe recounts the seduction of Henriette Bonnel after dinner, the subsequent resolution of Morin's legal trouble, and the lasting social stigma that haunts Morin until his death.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

Labarbe's passionate pursuit of Henriette and the romantic encounter under moonlight.

### Cruelty and Suffering

Morin's enduring humiliation and death from the social stigma of being called 'that pig, Morin'.

### Social Class and Money

The resolution of Morin's legal trouble through a payment of five hundred francs to the poor.

## Character check-ins

### Mademoiselle Henriette

Henriette Bonnel, the young woman Labarbe seduces during the visit to her uncle's house.

### Morin

The 'pig Morin' whose legal trouble is resolved; he dies two years later, haunted by the epithet.

### Paul Limousin

Labarbe, the narrator, who recounts his seduction of Henriette and his role in settling Morin's affair.

### Joseph Rivet

Labarbe's companion who grows impatient with the affair and insists on leaving.

## Key lines

> Dinner made me lose my head altogether. I sat beside her, and my hand continually met hers under the tablecloth, my foot touched hers, and our glances met and melted together.

During dinner, I became completely infatuated, sitting next to her and feeling our hands and feet touch under the table while our eyes locked.

_Labarbe describes the onset of his romantic obsession with Henriette._

> I have never drunk anything like it, soft, velvety, perfumed, intoxicating, a chocolate to make one swoon with pleasure.

The chocolate she brought me was unlike any I had ever tasted—smooth, fragrant, and utterly delightful.

_Labarbe's sensual memory of the morning after his night with Henriette._

> He died two years later.

Morin passed away two years after the incident.

_The final consequence of Morin's public shame._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_23_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters