# The Confession explained — Short Fiction > Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Guy de Maupassant. ## What happens On her deathbed, Marguerite de Thérelles confesses to her devoted sister Suzanne that as a jealous twelve-year-old she poisoned Suzanne's fiancé Henry de Sampierre by putting ground glass into cakes, a secret that has haunted her entire life. ## Themes in this chapter ### Obsession and Delusion Marguerite's childhood obsession with Henry de Sampierre leads her to commit murder and then live a life of secret torment. ### Love and Desire Suzanne's enduring love for her lost fiancé contrasts with Marguerite's jealous and destructive desire. ### Cruelty and Suffering Marguerite's act of poisoning is cruel, and her lifelong guilt causes immense psychological suffering. ## Character check-ins ### Suzanne The elder sister, who remained a widow after her fiancé's death and is now sobbing at Marguerite's bedside. ### Marguerite de Thérelles The dying younger sister, who confesses to poisoning her sister's fiancé out of childhood jealousy. ### Abbé Simon The old priest who administers the last rites and witnesses the confession. ## Key lines > Marguerite de Th√®relles was dying. Although she was only fifty-six, she looked at least seventy-five. Marguerite de Thérelles, though only fifty-six, appeared much older as she lay dying. _Opens the story with the image of a prematurely aged woman on her deathbed._ > I was jealous, jealous. The day of your wedding was drawing near. There was only a fortnight. I was going mad. Marguerite admits she was consumed with jealousy as her sister's wedding approached, driving her to madness. _Reveals the motive behind Marguerite's childhood crime._ > I forgive you, I forgive you, little one. Suzanne grants her sister forgiveness for the murder. _Climactic moment of absolution as Suzanne responds to Marguerite's confession._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/the-confession - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_23_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters