A Simple Heart

In a subtle example of situational irony, Flaubert names his protagonist “Félicité,” which translates into English as "bliss" or “great happiness.” This is an example of irony because Félicité’s life is not defined by happiness but by immense suffering and grief. Félicité lives tragedy after tragedy, as her loved ones either abandon her or die, experiencing anguish in the process. The challenging nature of Félicité’s life comes across in moments like the following, when she reckons with her nephew Victor’s death:

Félicité sank down on to a chair and leant her head against the wall. Her eyelids closed and suddenly flushed pink. She remained there, her head bowed, her hands hanging limply at her side, staring in front of her and repeating over and over again, “The poor boy! The poor boy!”

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