The Tales and Novels, v9: Belphegor and Others

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

La Fontaine, Jean de, 1621-1695

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Tales and Novels, v9: Belphegor and Others" by Jean de La Fontaine is a collection of tales composed in the 17th century, a period marked by the Baroque artistic movement. This volume features stories that blend elements of comedy, satire, and moral lessons, exploring human nature and relationships through whimsical narratives. The central themes often revolve around the follies of love, the pitfalls of marriage, and the absurdities inherent in social interactions. In "Belphegor," the titular character is a demon sent from Hell to study human marriages, revealing the discord and dissatisfaction that often lurk beneath the surface of matrimony. Disguised as a nobleman, Belphegor marries a proud woman named Honesta, leading to a tumultuous relationship filled with quarrels and regret. The tale humorously critiques the institution of marriage as Belphegor realizes the strife that accompanies it, culminating in his eventual retreat back to Hell upon being pursued by his irate wife. The other stories in the collection, such as "The Little Bell" and "The Glutton," also explore themes of desire and excess, employing simple yet engaging narratives to deliver deeper moral reflections that resonate with readers. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

This eBook was produced by David Widger

Notes:

Reading ease score: 70.1 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2004-03-01