Section 1 Summary

Boule de Suif by Guy de Maupassant centers around ten coach passengers who are from all walks of life, traveling through occupied France during the Franco-Prussian War. The running themes of Boule de Suif are self-sacrifice, manipulation, and the separation of social classes.

For days now, defeated soldiers wander through the town, aimless and without clear purpose. The men, who pass through in small casual groups, look tattered, worn, and tired. They are a mix of volunteers, enlisted men, and the once eager career soldier. Yet now they are all one and the same: beaten. These wandering soldiers each look as if they are solely responsible for France's defeat.

The unconfirmed rumor in the town is that the Prussians will soon enter Rouen. The National Guard members, who had until recently been shooting from the woods, are all back at home. Their uniforms...