The Two Nuns Character Analysis

The two nuns in “Boule de Suif” are unassuming and demure women of faith who are riding in the carriage from Rouen to Havre. Both women spend much of their time with their heads bent over, praying Hail Mary’s and Our Father’s into their rosary beads. Still, somehow, they play a huge role in convincing Miss Rousset to sleep with the Prussian officer, as they tell a story from the Bible that the Countess interprets as meaning that Miss Rousset should do as the officer wishes. One might think that two sisters of faith would share food with Miss Rousset in the second half of the journey, but they keep their provisions to themselves. Maupassant, who famously rejected religion when he intentionally got expelled from a seminary, consistently shows the nuns either failing to stand up to injustice or actively (if accidentally) furthering injustice, thereby critiquing religious faith.