Georges Duroy, the son of prosperous peasants, keepers of a tavern, by the whim of nature, is endowed with a happy appearance. He is slender, tall, blond, he has a wonderful mustache ... He is very popular with women, and he is in Paris. But he has three francs in his pocket, and he won't get his pay until two days later. He is hot, he wants beer ... Duroy wanders around Paris and waits for an opportunity that must present itself, right? The case is most likely a woman. So it will be. All his cases will come from women ... In the meantime, he meets Forestier.
They served together in Algiers. Georges Duroy did not want to be the first in the village and tried his luck in military service. For two years he robbed and killed Arabs. During this time, he developed the habit of walking with his chest puffed out and taking what he wanted. And in Paris you can stick out your chest and push passers-by, but here it is not customary to mine gold with a revolver in your hand.
But the fat Forestier succeeded: he is a journalist, he is a wealthy man, he is complacent - he treats an old friend with beer and advises him to take up journalism. He invites Georges to dinner the next day and gives him two louis (forty francs) so that he can rent a decent suit.
Since this all started. Forestier, it turns out, has a wife - an elegant, very pretty blonde. Her friend is a burning brunette Madame de Marelle with her little daughter. Mr. Walter, deputy, rich man, publisher of the newspaper "French Life" granted. There is also a famous feuilletonist and a famous poet ... And Duroy does not know how to handle a fork and does not know how to deal with four glasses ... But he quickly orients himself on the ground. And here - oh, how by the way! - the conversation went about Algeria. Georges Duroy enters into a conversation like cold water, but he is asked questions ... He is in the center of attention, and the ladies do not take their eyes off him! And Forestier, a friend of Forestier, does not miss the moment and asks his dear patron, Mr. Walter, to take Georges to work in the newspaper ... Well, we'll see, but for now Georges has been ordered two or three essays on Algeria. And another thing: Georges tamed Lorina, Madame de Marelle's little daughter. He kisses the girl and rocks her on his knee, and the mother is amazed and says that M. Duroy is irresistible.
How happily everything began! And all because he is so handsome and well done ... All that remains is to write this damn essay and bring it to Mr. Walter by three o'clock tomorrow.
And Georges Duroy gets down to work. Diligently and beautifully, he displays the title on a clean sheet: "Memoirs of an African shooter." This name was suggested by Mrs. Walter. But things don't go any further. Who knew that it was one thing to chat at the table with a glass in hand, when the ladies did not take their eyes off you, and it was quite another thing to write! A diabolical difference ... But nothing, the morning is wiser than the evening.
But in the morning it's not like that. Efforts are in vain. And Georges Duroy decides to ask his friend Forestier for help. However, Forestier hurries to the newspaper, he sends Georges to his wife: she, they say, will help no worse.
Madame Forestier seated Georges at the table, listened to him, and after a quarter of an hour began dictating an article. Luck carries him. The article is printed - what happiness! He was accepted into the chronicle department, and finally it is possible to leave the hated office of the Northern Railway forever. Georges does everything correctly and accurately: first he received a salary for a month at the box office, and only then he was rude at parting to the boss - he enjoyed it.
One is not good. The second article is not published. But this is not a problem - you need to take another lesson from Madame Forestier, and this is a pleasure. Here, however, no luck: Forestier himself was at home and told Georges that, they say, he did not intend to work instead of him ... Pig!
Duroy is angry and will do the article himself, without any help. You'll see!.. And he made an article, wrote. Only it was not accepted: it was considered unsatisfactory. He redid it. Again not accepted. After three alterations, Georges spat and completely went into reporting.
This is where he turned around. His slyness, charm and arrogance came in very handy. M. Walter himself is satisfied with Duroy's employee. Only one thing is bad: getting twice as much in the newspaper than in the office, Georges felt like a rich man, but this did not last so long. The more money, the more they are missing! And then: after all, he looked into the world of big people, but remained outside this world. He is lucky, he serves in the newspaper, he has acquaintances and connections, he enters the offices, but ... only as a reporter. Georges Duroy is still a poor man and a day laborer. And here, nearby, in their own newspaper - here they are! - people with pockets full of gold, they have luxurious houses and spicy wives ... Why do they have all this? Why not him? There is some mystery here.
Georges Duroy does not know the solution, but he knows what his strength is. And he remembers Madame de Marelle, the one who was with her daughter at Forestier's dinner. "I'm always at home until three o'clock," she said at the time. Georges called at half past two. Of course he was agitated, but Madame de Marelle is the very hospitality, the very gracefulness. And Lorina treats him like a friend ... And now Georges is invited to dinner at a restaurant, where they will be with Madame de Marelle and the Forestier spouses - two couples.
Dinner in a separate office is refined, lengthy and spicy with casual, light chatter on the verge of obscenity. Madame de Marelle promised to get drunk and kept her promise. Georges accompanies her. In the carriage, he is indecisive for some time, but it seems that she moved her leg ... He rushed to the attack, she surrendered. Finally, he mastered a real secular woman!
The next day, Duroy has breakfast with his beloved. He is still timid, does not know how things will go on, but she is charmingly sweet, and Georges plays love ... And it's so easy in relation to such a magnificent woman! Then Lorina enters and joyfully runs to him: “Ah, dear friend!” This is how Georges Duroy got his name. And Madame de Marelle - her name is Clotilde - turned out to be a delightful mistress. She hired a small apartment for their dates. Georges is dissatisfied: he can't afford it... No, it's already been paid! No, he can't let that happen... She pleads, more, more, and he... gave in, believing that it was actually fair. No, but how sweet she is!
Georges is completely penniless, but after each meeting he finds one or two gold coins in his vest pocket. He is outraged! Then he gets used to it. Only to calm his conscience keeps counting his debt to Clotilde.
It so happened that the lovers quarreled a lot. It looks like it's a break. Georges dreams - in the form of revenge - to return the debt to Clotilde. But there is no money. And Forestier, in response to a request for money, lent ten francs - a miserable handout. Nothing, Georges will repay him, he will cuckold the old Friend. Moreover, he now knows how easy it is.
But what is it? The attack on Madame Forestier was immediately bogged down. She is affable and frank: she will never become Duroy's mistress, but she offers him her friendship. Perhaps it is more expensive than Forestier's horns! And here is the first friendly advice; pay a visit to Mrs. Walther.
The dear friend managed to show himself to Mrs. Walther and her guests, and not a week goes by, and he is already appointed head of the chronicle department and invited to dinner with the Walthers. Such is the price of friendly advice.
An important event took place at Walter's dinner, but Dear Friend does not yet know that this is an important event: he is introduced to the two daughters of the publisher - eighteen and sixteen years old (one is ugly, the other is pretty, like a doll). But another thing Georges could not help but notice, Clotilde is still seductive and sweet. They reconciled and the connection was restored.
Forestier is sick, he is losing weight, coughing, and it is clear that he is not a tenant. Clotilde says by the way that Forestier's wife will not be slow to get married as soon as everything is over, and Dear Friend thought about it. In the meantime, the wife took the poor Forestier to the south - to be treated. At parting, Georges asks Madame Forestier to count on his friendly help.
And help was needed: Madame Forestier asks Duroy to come to Cannes, not to leave her alone with her dying husband. A dear friend feels the open space before him. He goes to Cannes and conscientiously fulfills a friendly duty. Until the end. Georges Duroy was able to show Madeleine Forestier that he was a dear friend, a wonderful and kind person.
And everything worked out! Georges marries the widow Forestier. Now he has an amazing assistant - a genius behind the scenes of journalism and political play ... And he has a beautifully arranged house, and he has now become a nobleman: he divided his last name into syllables and took the name of his native village, he is now du Roy de Cantel.
He and his wife are friends. But friendship must also know its limits... Ah, why does such a clever Madeleine, out of friendship, tell Georges that Madame Walter is crazy about him? Susanna, Walter's pretty daughter.
The dear friend thought again. And Ms. Walter, if you look closely, is still very much even nothing ... There is no plan, but Georges starts the game. This time, the object is respectable and is fighting desperately with itself, but the Dear Friend has overlaid it from all sides and drives it into a trap. And drove. The hunt is over, but the prey wants to go to the hunter again and again. He has other things to do. Then Madame Walter reveals a secret to the hunter.
Military expedition to Morocco resolved. Walter and Laroche, the foreign minister, want to cash in on this. They bought Moroccan bonds cheaply, but their value will skyrocket soon. They make tens of millions. Georges can also buy before it's too late.
Tangier - the gateway to Morocco - is captured. Walter has fifty million, he bought a luxurious mansion with a garden. And Duroy is angry: again he does not have big money. True, the wife inherited a million from a friend, and Georges chopped off half of it, but that's not it. Here for Susanna, the daughter of Walter, twenty millions of dowry ...
Georges with the vice police hunts down his wife. She was caught with Minister Laroche. A dear friend knocked down the minister with one blow and got a divorce. But Walter would never give up Susanna for him! There is a trick to this too. No wonder he seduced Madame Walter: while Georges dined and breakfasted with her, he became friends with Susanna, she believes him. And dear friend took the pretty fool away. She's compromised, and her father has nowhere to go.
Georges Duroy with his young wife leaves the church. He sees the Chamber of Deputies, he sees the Bourbon Palace. He has achieved everything.
But he will never be hot or cold again. He will never want so much
The problematic that dominates the novel does not at the same time exclude the writer's philosophical reflections on the meaning of human life, in which Maupassant's growing pessimism is felt. Section 3. Artistic features of the novels "Life" and "Dear Friend": translational aspect 3.1 Landscape as one of the artistic features of the novel "Life" 3.1.1 Definition of the concept of landscape LANDSCAPE - (from French ...
Chambers of Deputies and leading statesmen, but at the same time he is not able to finish the feuilleton begun for him by Madeleine. He seduces Clotilde de Marelle, whose daughter Lorinna calls D. "Dear friend". Especially for dates with him, Clotilde rents an apartment, and during the lack of money secretly slips money. In order to improve his official position, D. consults, after first confessing to ...
And this is an adjective, and one should never be satisfied with the approximate ... "Flaubert, among other things, taught the highest sensitivity and comprehensiveness of the writer - to be" at the same time a desert, a traveler and a camel. Maupassant worked hard, spending at least seven years on the Flaubert school of craftsmanship. Many plots and themes were accumulated by him during this time. However, Maupassant's work...
They are being portrayed. Tse bula was a special form of vikritta of bourgeois activity. Participants of the collection “Evenings in Medyan” wrote their novels in protest against embellished battle literature; Maupassant didn’t confront her in Pampushtsi, didn’t turn on her, but instead pitted his lacunae images of his active little ones.
An 1885 novel by the French writer Guy de Maupassant. Tells about an adventurer who dreams of making a brilliant career. He does not have any talents, except that with his appearance he can win the heart of any lady, and his conscience forgives him any meanness. And ... this is enough to become strong in this world.
The novel includes an understanding of not only personal, but also social and philosophical (religious) issues. The social principle of "Dear Friend" is expressed in the description of several social classes: the peasantry (George's parents), the intelligentsia (employees of the "French Life"), politicians (Foreign Minister Laroche-Mathieu), the nobility (Comte de Vaudrec and others). In his novel, Maupassant shows how at the end of the 19th century some social frameworks are blurred and others are formed: the protagonist of the work, a native of a peasant environment, at the beginning becomes a military man, then a journalist, then a noble person. The latter turns out to be quite easy: Georges changes his last name from Duroy to Du Roy de Cantel (after the name of the area where he was born and raised), begins to sign his articles with it, and over time everyone gets used to his new social status.
Georges Duroy, a handsome young man, lives in Paris in dire need. One day he meets his old army comrade, Charles Forestier, who served with him in Africa. Charles became a successful journalist. He plans to arrange a dinner party and invites Georges, and at the same time invites him to try his hand at journalism.
At dinner, Georges meets Charles's wife, Madeleine, her friend Clotilde de Marelle, Forestier's boss and, concurrently, a big businessman, Mr. Walter, as well as several colleagues of the journalist. Duroy charms all the interlocutors at the table, likes Walter and receives the first task - to write an article: "Memoirs of an African shooter." Despite trying to think of something, he fails. Georges turns to Madeleine for help, who ends up writing a wonderful article for him. The article is accepted and he is given the task of writing a sequel.
Georges trying to get back to Madeleine, but Forestier is indignant and forbids his wife to work for Georges. Georges rewrites the article several times, but it is never accepted. Then he decides to go into reporting. Georges is taught this art by a newspaper employee named Saint-Potin.
Soon, Georges becomes a successful reporter, his talent does not go unnoticed by his superiors. Georges earns well, but he fails to get rich. He starts an affair with a society lady, Clotilde de Marel, and becomes her lover. He likes her little daughter Lorina, who gives him the nickname - Dear friend. Soon all the ladies with whom Georges communicates begin to call him by this nickname. Clotilde helps him with money, while Georges is angry with her and promises to return everything "as soon as there is money." However, he always sits without money. Being at a secular dinner with Mr. Walter, he manages to please his wife, who begs her husband for a raise for Georges. Once he quarrels with Clotilde, and in the form of revenge he wants to return all the debt to her, but does not find the money. Soon he puts up with her, and this is no longer necessary.
Trying to borrow money from Forestier, he receives a handout of 20 francs and dreams of taking revenge by pointing his horns. But he receives a cold refusal from Madeleine, she offers to be friends and allies. Meanwhile, Mr. Forestier is getting worse and he leaves for Cannes for treatment. From there, a telegram arrives from Madeleine with a request to come urgently, as Forestier is about to die. Upon the arrival of Georges, Charles really dies, and Georges invites Madeleine to marry him. She agrees to become Madame Duroy, provided that he buys himself a title of nobility and will not interfere with her usual way of life, meeting with old friends. Soon Georges becomes Mr. Du Roy and marries Madeleine. Georges, however, renews his love affair with Clotilde. Madeleine helps him write articles, it is very noticeable to those around him that Georges' articles are becoming similar to Forestier's old articles. In the newspaper, Georges takes the position of Forestier, and they begin to tease him, as if accidentally calling him the name of a deceased friend. He gets angry at this, begins to be jealous of Madeleine and suspect her of treason.
The newspaper, where Georges works, from a minor turns into a leading political publication. Walter, leading business in Africa, uses it as a means of propaganda and political pressure, at the same time, Madeleine makes acquaintance with various political and secular persons, collects information. Madeleine and Georges, working together, write articles helping to overthrow the old government and take the ministerial post to an old friend of Madeleine and Walter, deputy Laroche-Mathieu. Duroy's house turns into a major political salon, Georges writes articles commissioned by Laroche-Mathieu. Soon, wanting to take revenge on Madeleine, he seduces his boss's wife, Mrs. Walter, who reveals her husband's secret about a huge financial fraud with Moroccan bonds, part of which were newspaper articles ordered by Georges.
Madeleine's old friend dies (there is a hint in the text that he is her lover), Count Vaudrec, and leaves her a million francs as a legacy. Duroy sure that she was his mistress, he forces his wife to give him half the amount, because otherwise the fact that a married woman received an inheritance from an elderly count will cause rumors in society. This is how he becomes rich. However, at the same time, Walter's bond fraud takes place, which thanks to this becomes the richest man in the country. Georges is jealous of Walter and regrets that he cannot now marry Walter's daughter Suzanne who maintains a good relationship with him.
Georges' relationship continues with both his old mistress, Clotilde de Marel, and Walter's wife. The latter, being an aged woman, very pious and strictly educated, at first resisted for a long time, but then rushed into a relationship with him as if into a whirlpool. She quickly got tired of Georges, and he began to avoid her in every possible way, which caused her great suffering and annoyed him even more. Relations with Clotilde were also not smooth, but she forgave him - both after marrying Madeleine and after discovering another mistress.
Thinking about marrying Walter's daughter and getting a dowry, Georges with the morality police catches his wife cheating with Laroche-Mathieu, thanks to which he manages to topple the minister and get a divorce from his wife. At the same time, he sets the stage for a relationship with Susanna, convinces her to give up her well-born fiancé and persuades her to elope with him. They run away together, and when they return, an angry Walter is forced to marry his daughter, otherwise rumors will spread that she has been dishonored. Wife walter categorically against marriage, she begins to hate her daughter and Georges, but, unable to resist the circumstances, loses heart and gives up. So Georges becomes the heir to a huge fortune, the son-in-law of the first rich man in France. At his wedding, the poet-philosopher Norbert de Waren sums up: "The future belongs to the crooks." And Georges himself at the wedding looks at Clotilde and remembers what a wonderful mistress she was. And his look lets her know that everything is the same with them.
Guy de Maupassant - Dear friend (novel) - summary updated: March 10, 2016 by: site
The son of wealthy peasants, Georges Duroy is naturally endowed with a delightful appearance. He wore a lovely mustache, blond hair always looked irresistible, and a slender figure distinguished him from the crowd. Thanks to this, he had an amazing success among women and he lived in Paris. At this time, he was in serious financial need: he had only three francs left in his pocket, and a new salary would be paid only in a couple of days. The heat every minute took away a lot of strength from him and he terribly wanted a mug of beer. Duroy, walking along the streets of Paris, is always waiting for some extraordinary event. And whoever seeks, as you know, always finds. Of course, he was looking for a woman, through whose fault all the most interesting events would happen. But he will not get ahead of himself, but simply explain that he met Forestier.
Georges served with him in Algiers. The young man neglected success in his own village and went to serve in the army. For about two years he carried out robberies, which were invariably accompanied by the killing of Arab people. It was this that developed in him the habit of taking whatever he desired and walking with his chest puffed out. The only pity is that in Paris it is not customary to earn a living by waving a revolver.
His friend Forestier began to excel in journalism, and this earned himself a good fortune. In his spiritual nobility, he treats his friend with excellent beer and gives advice to engage in journalistic activities. Georges has been invited to tomorrow's dinner and receives forty francs from Forestier. This money is enough to rent a good suit.
This was the beginning of an interesting story. Forestier is married to a graceful and pretty blonde. Wife's friend - a burning brunette Mrs. Marelle has a daughter. The publisher of the newspaper "French Life" Mr. Walter, a deputy and a very wealthy person, also pleased everyone with his visit. In addition, he was also a famous poet. Duroy is lost in four glasses and hardly copes with a fork, although he quickly orients himself among these very gifted gentlemen. Finally, the conversation turned to Algeria. As if in cold water with opponents, Duroy enters into a conversation and, of course, they begin to ask him a bunch of questions. He felt the attention of interested female glances. Forstier quickly takes advantage of this moment and asks Walter to take a friend to his newspaper. Duroy receives his first informal commission: to write a couple of essays about his service in Algeria. Georges managed to win over Lorina, the little daughter of Madame Marelle. He quietly cradles her on his knees, and her mother watches with admiration the beautiful new guest.
It seemed that happiness knew no bounds. All thanks to his irresistible appearance and skills. It remains only to fulfill the order given to him and bring it to Walter by three o'clock.
Georges wastes no time and begins to work. Here it is already displayed: "Memoirs of an African shooter." He took advantage of Mrs. Walther's help and deduced this name. It’s a pity that no one helped him in further writing and everything stopped. It's one thing to talk at the sight of beautiful ladies with a glass of wine, but writing is quite another! Georges decides to leave this occupation until the morning.
In the morning, all efforts were in vain and the newly minted writer asks his friend Forestier for help. He, referring to cases in the newspaper, sends him to his wife, who, according to him, can help.
Mrs. Forestier, having seated Georges at a comfortable table and after listening to him, already after 15 minutes began to dictate neat lines to him. And now, the work is ready - luck is now on his side! He is accepted into the chronicle department and is finally able to leave his hated job on the Northern Railway. Here George acts like a true gentleman: first he receives a salary for the whole month, and only then, having rude the authorities from head to toe, he leaves in a pleasant mood ...
...and again finds himself in an absurd situation. The second article is very difficult. It's good that he already knows how to solve such problems. He again asks for help from Madame Forestier. But her husband is at home and informs Georges that he is not going to do the work for him.
Duroy, offended by his friend, decides to write everything himself. Let's look at them when his article is printed! But they didn’t print even after all kinds of edits, too. Georges decided to leave the writing of articles and goes into simple reporters.
And here he was waiting for success. The reason for everything was his incredible craftiness, arrogance and charm. Mr. Walter is pleased with the new employee. Georges received a salary twice as much as in the office, but happiness did not last long. As you know, the more money a person has, the less they are enough to live on. Georges easily managed to follow the lives of great people, but he himself always remained behind the scenes. He's a respected... reporter and there's nothing you can do about it. He is accepted by the richest people into their offices only as a newspaperman. Georges again feels impoverished, although people with pockets full of cash work in his own newspaper. They have beautiful wives and chic houses. Duroy begins to overcome envy.
Alas, he does not know the answer to all his questions, but he is excellent at using his power. He remembered Madame de Marelle, the one who had been with her daughter at Forestier's dinner party. She made it clear to Georges that she was always at home only until three o'clock. A visit to her excited him a little, but de Marelle is the embodiment of grace and warm hospitality. He receives an invitation to a restaurant with the Forestiers.
The food he ate was excellent! Yes, and the situation in a separate restaurant office was conducive to conversation. Madame de Marelle had drunk a good deal, and Georges accompanied her home. While still in the carriage, Georges, overcoming slight indecision, rushed to the attack. De Marel could not resist and immediately he took possession of her.
The next day, Georges is already having breakfast with his lover. He continues to play love, but still tries to fight shyness. He does not know how the further course of events will go. Laurent runs into the room and joyfully runs towards him. She considers Georges her friend and it's charming. Clotilde, that's the name of de Marelle, is also an excellent hostess. And for dates, she rented a small modest apartment. But this caused Georges dissatisfaction, because he could not afford to pay for an apartment, although it was paid for by Clotilde. She begs him to agree to this and he eventually agrees, considering it completely fair. Her beauty never ceases to amaze him.
Georges is increasingly in financial need, but after each date he finds in his pockets a couple of gold coins of Clotilde. This state of affairs obviously does not suit him, but he quickly puts up with it and continues to keep track of his debt simply to calm his soul.
But here lovers quarrel. Most likely a gap. Georges intends to take revenge by fully repaying all debts, but he still has not a penny. He asks his friend Forestier for help, but he gives him only a miserable handout - ten francs. Georges decides to take revenge on him and cuckold an old friend - the man who helped him.
The attack on Madame Foretier ends in complete failure. She is also friendly and kind, but she definitely does not want to become a mistress. In response to all sorts of temptations from Duroy, she offers friendship, and this is already more serious than just cuckolding. The first friendly advice came in handy and Georges pays a visit to Madame Walter.
A week after this visit, Georges takes over the chronicle department and is invited by the Walter family to dinner. That's the price of friendly advice!
Georges had an important event at the dinner party. However, Dear friend still does not even suspect what kind of event this is. It will be presented to the publishers' two daughters, aged sixteen and eighteen. One of the bottoms is very pretty, the other is a simple ugly girl. But Georges again began to worry about Clotilde - still the same irresistible and seductive. They reconcile and love harmony triumphed.
Suddenly, Forestier falls ill. His weakness, cough and rapid weight loss suggests that he does not have long left. According to Clotilde, his wife will immediately marry another, not having time to recover from a heavy loss. And then Georges begins to think hard about the future. Meanwhile, his wife took Forestier south for treatment. At the farewell meeting, the Dear Friend assures Madame Forestier that he will help in any way he can.
Of course, help was not long in coming. After some time, Mrs. Forestier asks him to visit them in Cannes and help her in every possible way to cope with her dying husband. Georges goes on a trip and conscientiously fulfills all promises. Until his death, he managed to establish himself as a reliable friend and just a kind person.
Everything went as planned! Georges soon marries the widow Forestier. Now in his environment there is a wonderful assistant - just a genius of true political intrigues. He received a title of nobility, a luxurious house. Georges was no longer satisfied with his last name and he divides it into syllables in combination with the name of his native village. Now he is called du Roy de Cantel.
In the face of his wife, he found a true friend, but friendship in their understanding has certain limits. Why, pray tell, did the most intelligent Madeleine tell her Dear Friend that Madame Walter secretly loves him? Moreover, she conveys to him her words that if Georges were free, it would be handy for him to marry her daughter Suzanne.
And he goes back to thinking. Madame Walter, by the way, is also very charming. Georges starts his game. This time the object is full of contradictions, but very respectable. A dear friend manages to drive Walter out of a trap and she reveals a secret to him.
Laroche, being Minister of Foreign Affairs, in company with Mr. Walter, want to make big money on a military expedition to Morocco. They are immediately buying Moroccan loan bonds for next to nothing, the value of which is about to rise. Georges is free to buy some of these shares. The idea turned out to be wonderful: they earned tens of millions.
The Moroccan gates of Tangen have already been captured! Walter buys a luxurious mansion with a wonderful garden. Duroy is not in the mood again. Big money slipped past him again. It is good that his wife inherited a very serious capital, and Georges took half from her, but still this did not bring him the expected euphoria. But for the daughter of Walter Susanna twenty million as a dowry.
Georges managed to track down his wife. Together with the morality police, he found her with Laroche. One blow was enough to knock down the minister and announce a divorce. Walter was clearly against marrying Susanna, however, during the presence of Georges in their house, he managed to firmly win over his daughter and they run away from home together. Suzanne is compromised and Walter is obligated to conduct the wedding.
Finally, Georges Duroy achieved everything he wanted, he forgot to think about heat and cold and that he once wanted beer.
The summary of the novel "Dear Friend" was retold by Osipova A.S.
Please note that this is only a summary of the literary work "Dear Friend". This summary omits many important points and quotations.
Georges Duroy, a former non-commissioned officer, leaves a Parisian restaurant with three francs in his pocket. The hero faces a difficult choice: spend this money on two lunches or two breakfasts. Georges envies rich Parisians and sadly recalls his service in Algiers. On the street, the hero meets his army comrade Charles Forestier. The latter occupies a good position in society: he is a journalist, married. Georges complains to a friend that, working in the management of the Northern Railway, he is actually starving. Forestier takes him to the editorial office of French Life, where he works himself, treats him to beer, offers to do journalism and invites him to dinner. The friends end the evening at the Folies Bergère, where Georges meets a lady of easy virtue named Rachel.
At a dinner at Forestier's, Duroy meets Ms. Madeleine Forestier, her friend and distant relative Ms. Clotilde de Marelle and her daughter Lorina, the publisher of the French Life, Mr. Walter and his wife, writers Jacques Rival and Norbert de Varen. In society, Georges shows himself to be an excellent connoisseur of Algeria. Mr. Walter commissions a series of essays on life in Africa from him.
Returning home, Duroy sits down at the Memoirs of an African Rifleman. The essay is not written. Instead of working, Duroy dreams of meeting a mysterious stranger, whom he will marry and enter high society. In the morning, Duroy hurries to Forestier and asks him to help with the article. The journalist sends a friend to his wife. Madame Forestier writes the entire essay for Duroy. In the afternoon, Georges is hired by French Life. The next morning, he sees his article printed and, for joy, does not know what to do with himself. Finally, he decides to get a salary at the same place and pay off his job.
In the afternoon, Forestier chastises Duroy for not bringing him a continuation of the essay, and sends a friend along with Saint-Potin to interview. The next morning, the Forestiers refuse to help Duroy, and he writes the article himself. In the evening, Georges goes to the Folies Bergère, where he meets Rachel again. His essay on Algeria is never published.
In a short time, Duroy becomes an excellent reporter. He closely converges with Madame de Marelle and her daughter Lorina and receives from them the nickname "Dear friend". After dinner with the Forestiers, Duroy takes possession of Madame de Marelle in a carriage, after which they become lovers. At the beginning, the characters meet at Duroy's apartment, then Clotilde rents furnished rooms for him. De Marel forces Georges to take her to cheap pubs and brothels. Duroy gets into debt. Clotilde, learning of this, tosses twenty francs into his pocket. In the Folies Bergère, she learns that Duroy has been cheating on her with Rachel, and breaks with him.
Georges borrows money to repay Clotilde, but eats everything up instead. He acquires the friendship of Madame Forestier. The woman advises Duroy to enlist the support of Madame Walter. After a visit to the latter, Georges is appointed head of the chronicle department. At dinner at the Walters, he again converges with Madame de Marelle and strikes up a friendship with her husband. The poet Norbert de Waren tells Duroy that he lives in constant fear of death.
Louis Langremont of the rival "Per" attacks Georges in writing. Boirenar and Jacques Rival arrange a duel for the heroes. Duroy is very worried on the eve of the duel, but, fortunately, both opponents remain unharmed.
Forestier dies at the Villa Belle in Cannes. Georges spends his last days with a friend. After his death, he proposes to Madeleine. A few months later, she accepts him and asks Georges to "become a nobleman for the wedding", changing his surname to Du Roy de Cantel.
Clotilde cries upon learning of Georges' marriage, but admits that he made a good choice. After the marriage, which took place on May 10, the Duroy spouses go to Georges' parents. On the way, all they do is make love: on the train, in the hotel. Georges's parents - ordinary peasants - at first do not recognize their son and are wary of accepting his wife.
In Paris, Georges works with Madeleine. He is appointed head of the political department instead of the deceased Forestier. Colleagues tease him. Georges constantly mocks Charles in the presence of Madeleine. He is jealous of his wife for a dead friend.
Georges learns from Madeleine that Madame Walter has fallen in love with him. He accompanies the latter, along with her daughters, to a fencing tournament with Jacques Rival. The next day, he declares his love to Mrs. Walter. In the Trinity Church, a woman confesses that she has been in love with Georges for a year, but then runs away from him to confession. The next day, Madame Walter comes to her senses and makes an appointment with the hero in the park. Georges takes her to the apartment rented by Clotilde and pounces on her as if she were legitimate prey.
Ministers are replaced in the French government and French Life becomes an official newspaper. Georges begins to envy the new minister Laroche-Mathieu and dream of a parliamentary career.
For a month and a half of an affair with Ms. Walter, Georges gets pretty tired of her, but falls in love with Clotilde even more. Mrs. Walter, wanting to keep her lover, tells him about a secret mission in Morocco, where you can easily get rich. Georges shares a secret with Clotilde, and immediately quarrels with her because of the gray hair of Madame Walter found on him.
The Comte de Vaudrec, a good friend of Madeleine, dies. He leaves her all his fortune. Georges agrees to give his wife permission to accept the inheritance only if she gives him half.
After conquering Morocco, Walter earns 50 million. The five hundred thousand francs received from Vaudrec seem to Georges to be miserable crumbs. He begins to think that he acted hastily by marrying Madeleine, and not Susanna, one of Walter's daughters.
At a reception at the new Walter mansion, Georges breaks with the mistress of the house and begins to seduce Susanna. Minister of Foreign Affairs Laroche-Mathieu gives the hero the Order of the Legion of Honor. Together with the police commissioner, Georges establishes the fact of his wife's infidelity with Laroche and gets a divorce three months later.
Susanna runs to Georges. Walter agrees to the marriage. Ms. Walter has a nervous attack. Georges and Susanna are married. In the church, the hero realizes that he loves only one woman - Clotilde.
Guy de Maupassant
Dear friend
Part one
George Duroy received change from the cashier of the restaurant for five francs and went to the exit.
Stately by nature and, moreover, retaining a non-commissioned officer's bearing, he drew himself up and, twisting his mustache with a habitual jovial gesture, captured the belated visitors with that sharp-sighted look with which a handsome man, like a hawk, looks out for prey.
The women looked up at him; they were three young working women, a middle-aged music teacher, carelessly combed, slovenly dressed, in a dusty hat, in a crooked dress, and two bourgeois women with their husbands - regulars of this cheap tavern.
He stood for a minute on the sidewalk, contemplating what to do next. Today is the twenty-eighth of June; until the first day he has only three francs forty centimes left. This means: two lunches, but no breakfasts, or two breakfasts, but no lunches - your choice. Since breakfast costs ten francs centimes, and dinner one and a half francs, by refusing dinners, he will gain twenty centimes francs; therefore, he calculated, it would be possible to have two more suppers of bread and sausage and drink two mugs of beer on the boulevard. And this is his biggest expense and the biggest pleasure that he allows himself in the evenings. He moved down the Rue Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.
He walked in the same way as in those days when he was wearing a hussar uniform: puffing out his chest and slightly spreading his legs, as if he had just dismounted from his horse. He unceremoniously squeezed through the crowd that filled the street: he hit passers-by with his shoulder, pushed, and did not give way to anyone. Moving his worn top hat a little to one side and tapping his heels, he walked with the arrogant air of a brave soldier who found himself among civilians, who absolutely despises everything: both people and houses - the whole city.
Even in this cheap sixty-franc suit he managed to retain a certain elegance—vulgar, eye-catching, but elegance nonetheless. Tall, good figure, curly blond hair with a reddish tint, combed in a straight parting, twisted mustache, as if foaming on the lip, light blue eyes with gimlet pupils - everything about him resembled a seducer from a tabloid novel.
It was one of those summer evenings when there is not enough air in Paris. The city, as hot as a sauna, seemed to be choking and sweating. The granite maws of the sewers spread a stench; from the basement floors, from the low kitchen windows, came the disgusting smell of slops and sour sauce.
The porters, having taken off their jackets, were smoking at the gates on straw chairs; past them, with hats in their hands, barely moving their feet, wandered passers-by.
Having reached the boulevard, Georges Duroy again hesitated. He was drawn to the Champs Elysees, to the Bois de Boulogne - to breathe fresh air among the trees. But he also experienced another desire - the desire to meet a woman.
How will it happen? He did not know this, but he had been waiting for her for three months now, every day, every evening. However, thanks to his happy appearance and gallant manner, here and there he happened to snatch a little love, but he hoped for something more and better.
His pockets were empty, and meanwhile the blood was playing, and he was inflamed at every touch of street women who whispered on the corners: "Come with me, handsome!" - but he did not dare to follow them, since he had nothing to pay; moreover, he kept waiting for something else, other, less accessible kisses.
And yet he liked to visit places where girls of easy virtue teemed - their balls, restaurants, streets; he liked to push among them, to talk to them, to address them as "you", to breathe in the pungent smell of their perfume, to feel their closeness. After all, these are also women, and women created for love. He did not at all feel disgust for them, characteristic of a family man.
He walked towards the Madeleine and disappeared into the heat-exhausted stream of people. Large, pavement-filled, crowded cafés paraded their patrons in blindingly bright shop window light. In front of visitors on square and round tables stood glasses with drinks - red, yellow, green, brown, all kinds of shades, and huge transparent cylindrical pieces of ice sparkled in decanters, cooling beautiful clear water.
Duroy slowed down, his throat dry.
A burning thirst, a thirst that one feels only on a stuffy summer evening, tormented him, and he evoked in himself the delicious sensation of cold beer pouring down his throat. But if you drink at least two mugs today, then goodbye to tomorrow's meager dinner, and he knew only too well the hours of hunger inevitably associated with the end of the month.
"I'll wait until ten, and then I'll drink a mug in the American cafe," he decided. - Oh, hell, how, however, I want to drink! “He looked at all these people sitting at the tables and quenching their thirst - all these people who could drink as much as they wanted. He walked past the cafe, casting a mocking and defiant glance at the visitors and determining by eye - by facial expression, by clothes - how much money each of them should have with them. And anger arose in him at these gentlemen who settled down with all the comforts. Rummage in their pockets - you will find gold, and silver, and copper coins. On average, each should have at least two louis; in any cafe, a hundred people, in any case, will be typed; two louis multiplied by a hundred is four thousand francs! "Bastard!" he grumbled, still swaying gracefully. If the former non-commissioned officer had come across one of them at night in a dark alley, - honestly, he would have broken his neck without a twinge of conscience, as he did with village chickens during maneuvers.
Duroy involuntarily came to mind two years that he spent in Africa, in the provincial fortresses in the south of Algiers, where he often managed to rob the Arabs to the skin. A cheerful and cruel smile flickered across his lips at the memory of one trick: it cost three Arabs from the Ouled-Alan tribe their lives, but he and his comrades got twenty chickens, two rams, gold, and for all that for half a year they had something to laugh at .
The culprits were not found, and they were not so diligently searched for - after all, the Arab is still considered to be something like the legitimate prey of a soldier.
Not so in Paris. Here you can’t rob for your own pleasure - with a saber on your side and with a revolver in your hand, at large, far from civil justice. Duroy felt all the instincts of a non-commissioned officer, corrupted in a conquered country, speak in him at once. Indeed, those were happy years. What a pity that he did not stay in the desert! But he thought he would be better off here. And it turned out ... It turned out the devil knows what!