# IV: Fishing explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Guy de Maupassant.

## What happens

Monsieur Patissot, a novice fisherman, prepares for his first fishing trip by studying a pamphlet and buying equipment. He joins his friend Boivin and a fat man on a boat at Bezons, where he struggles to bait his hooks and becomes seasick. After a failed morning, he befriends the fat man over lunch, then accidentally hooks a woman's bonnet, causing a scene. He finally catches a tiny fish, which he proudly eats, and plans to sail with his new friend.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Money

The contrast between the cheap beer-garden and the upscale Châlet des Tilleuls highlights class divisions among fishermen, and Patissot overpays for the bonnet he accidentally hooks.

### Obsession and Delusion

Patissot's obsessive preparation and belief in the pamphlet's advice contrast with his actual incompetence; his pride in catching a single tiny fish is a delusion of success.

### Illusion vs. Reality

Patissot's romanticized expectations of fishing clash with the reality of seasickness, failed baiting, and a tiny catch; the fat man's honest indifference exposes the illusion of the sport.

## Character check-ins

### Monsieur Boivin

Patissot's friend and experienced fisherman; he is serious about fishing and becomes irritated by Patissot's incompetence.

### Monsieur Patissot

The protagonist and novice fisherman; he buys fishing gear and a pamphlet, struggles with baiting hooks, gets seasick, accidentally hooks a woman's bonnet, and finally catches a tiny fish.

### The Mouche

A fat man who fishes without caring about catching anything; he befriends Patissot and invites him to sail on his clipper, the Plongeon.

## Key lines

> In a word, if you wish to succeed, and be able to fish right and left, up or down stream, without care or precautions of any kind, and with that conquering air that admits of no defeat, then fish before, during, and after a thunderstorm...

To guarantee fishing success regardless of conditions, you should fish during a thunderstorm when fish are panicked and easy to catch.

_Patissot memorizes this advice from his pamphlet, but it proves useless in his actual experience._

> You see, I wouldn't like it a bit if they did bite. I don't come here to fish, but merely because I like the spot; you get a good shaking up, as you do on the sea.

The fat man explains that he doesn't actually want to catch fish; he comes for the rocking sensation of the boat, like being at sea.

_This reveals the fat man's unconventional and honest approach to fishing, contrasting with Patissot's earnest efforts._

> It gave Patissot triumphant, unbounded joy. He wanted it fried for himself alone.

Patissot felt immense pride and insisted on eating the tiny fish by himself.

_Despite the fish being minuscule and caught by accident, Patissot treats it as a great achievement._

## Links

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