The Appearance of Evil in Boule de Suif. Social Sciences Research Paper

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PHIL 1666
Professor
10th AUGUST 2018
The Appearance of Evil in Boule de Suif
Boule de Suif is a captivating novella written by Guy de Maupassant during The Franco-Prussian War. The plot of the story captures a holistic, yet fascinating view of the human society, replete with contrasting religious and individual belief systems. The story presents an archetypal ethical and religious dilemma that bedevils mankind in relating with God. These divergent perspectives are presented in form of class disparity, moral and ethical conflicts, and the effect of religiosity on the perception of evil. While her fellow travellers allowed themselves to be subordinated by their captors, Boule de Suif stood her ground. Her ultimate compromise was an act of patriotism regardless of the fact that she indeed was a prostitute. Although she offered herself to stay overnight with the German officer in exchange for her colleagues’ freedom, she is abandoned by the very people for whom she had secured freedom on the basis that they were avoiding to appear evil. Notwithstanding their skewed perception of her, it is apparent that evil perpetrated outrage without hosting physical bodies while heroes stepped up in the flesh.
Boule de Suif, a renowned prostitute heroically offered herself in exchange for the freedom of her fellow travellers. Though an acquaintance of evil, she initially resists pressure and demands from the German soldier even though she finally gives-in in exchange for the freedom of her fellow travellers. Although she sacrificed for their sake, they later on estrange, loathe and treat her with contempt on the premise that she had committed an evil act notwithstanding their freedom and the hospitality that she had hitherto extended to them (Cours, 4). Evil cuts across the text. The German soldiers perpetrated evil against French war hostages whereas her fellow travellers indulged in evil acts such as smoking and drunkenness. In fact, those that isolated Boule de Suif were just as evil as she was or perhaps even more evil. Indeed, it is evident that evil did not require a host body to perpetrate outrage. It is evident that the German soldiers were ready to perpetrate evil and nothing could stop them. Indeed, they did not require a host body to perpetrate evil; neither did Boule de Suif and her compatriots. The soldiers tortured, raped and even looted from the local communities. On the other hand, Boule de Suif was a prostitute, whereas her fellow travellers repaid evil for evil (Killick, 435). For the soldiers, they did not need a host body to perpetrate evil against their helpless captors. Their intention of occupying the French territory was definite and predetermined, and so was their motive. In spite of all the evil perpetrated by the German soldiers, it seems as though none of this acts appeared evil save for Boule de Suif’s act of spending a night with the errant soldier. Perhaps, it is the appearance of evil that distinguish heinous acts perpetrated by the invading troops, those committed by Boule de Suif and those committed by her fellow travellers. Apostle Paul wrote in one of the epistles that all believers should abstain from ‘all appearance of evil’ (Cf., 1Thessalonians 5:22, NRSV). This scrip...