Bel Ami

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Bel Ami (disambiguation).
Bel Ami
Author Guy de Maupassant
Country France
Language French
Publication date
 1885

Bel Ami is second novel by French author Guy de Maupassant, published in 1885; an English translation titled Bel Ami, or, The History of a Scoundrel: A Novel first appeared in 1903.

The story chronicles journalist Georges Duroy's corrupt rise to power from a poor ex-NCO to one of the most successful men in Paris, most of which he achieves by manipulating a series of powerful, intelligent, and wealthy mistresses.

Synopsis

The novel is set in Paris in the upper-middle class environment of the leading journalists of the newspaper La Vie Française and their friends. It tells the story of Georges Duroy, who has spent three years in military service in Algeria. After working for six months as a clerk in Paris, an encounter with his former comrade, Forestier, enables him to start a career as a journalist. From a reporter of minor events and soft news, he gradually climbs his way up to chief editor. Duroy initially owes his success to Forestier’s wife, Madeleine, who helps him write his first articles and, when he later starts writing lead articles, she adds an edge and poignancy to them. At the same time, she uses her connections among leading politicians to provide him with behind the scenes information which allows him to become actively involved in politics. Duroy is also introduced to many politicians in Madame Forestier’s drawing-room. Duroy becomes the lover of Forestiers' friend Mme de Marelle, another influential woman. Duroy later tries to seduce Madeleine Forestier to get even with her husband, but she repulses Duroy’s sexual advances and offers that they become true friends without ulterior motives.

In a few months, Charles Forestier’s health deteriorates and he travels to the south of France to regain it. Soon afterwards, Duroy receives a letter from Madeleine imploring him to join her and help her bear the last moments of her husband’s life. When Forestier dies, Duroy asks Madeleine to marry him. After a few weeks to consider, she agrees. Georges now signs his articles Du Roy (an aristocratic style of French name) in order to add prestige to his name. The married couple travels to Normandy, the region of Georges’s childhood, and meets his peasant parents. Finding the reality different than her romantic expectations, Madeleine feels very uncomfortable with his parents and so their stay with them is short. In the newspaper office, Duroy is ridiculed for having his articles written by his wife, just as the late Forestier had his articles written by her. His newspaper colleagues call him ‘Forestier’, which drives Georges mad and he becomes heavily jealous of Madeleine, insisting that she admit having been unfaithful to Forestier, but she never does.

In order to suppress the stings of jealousy, Duroy starts an affair with Mme Walter, the wife of the owner of the newspaper. He especially enjoys the conquest as he is her first extramarital lover. Later on, however, he regrets the decision, for he cannot get rid of her when he does not want her. Duroy’s relations with his wife become estranged, and at one point he takes a police superintendent to a flat in which his wife is meeting a minister. They catch the two in the act of adultery, which was then a crime punishable under the law.

In the last two chapters, Duroy's ascent to power continues. Duroy, now a single man, makes use of his chief’s daughter's infatuation with him, and arranges an elopement with her. The parents then have no other choice but to grant their assent to the marriage. The last chapter shows Duroy savouring his success at the wedding ceremony at which 'all those who figured prominently in society' are present. His thoughts, however, chiefly belong to Mme de Marelle who, when wishing him all the best, indicates that she has forgiven him for his new marriage and that their intimate meetings can be taken up again.

List of characters

  • Georges Duroy (Du Roy), an ex-soldier, journalist and a social climber
  • Charles Forestier, Duroy's former friend in the army, a journalist
  • Madeleine Forestier (Du Roy), Charles's and later Georges's wife who helps her husbands write their articles and has many connections among the powerful
  • Monsieur Laroche-Mathieu, a friend of Madeleine Forestier, a member of parliament, later a minister who owes his position and sudden wealth to La Vie Française, Madeleine Forestier's lover
  • Comte de Vaudrec, an old longtime friend and protector and probably also lover of Madeleine Forestier (Du Roy)
  • Clotilde de Marelle, the Forestiers' friend whose husband is away for long periods of time, Duroy's main lover
  • Laurine de Marelle, their young daughter, who comes up with the nickname Bel Ami.
  • Jacques Rival, a journalist
  • Norbert de Varenne, an old single bitter life-tired poet who is among the Vie Française staff
  • Monsieur Walter, the owner and chief editor of the Vie Francaise
  • Virginie Walter, his wife, later Duroy's lover
  • Suzanne Walter, their marriageable daughter, later Madame Du Roy
  • Rachel, a prostitute to whom Georges turns in times of financial crisis

Productions

Films

The novel was adapted into film several times, including Bel Ami (1939), The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947), starring George Sanders and itself the first version in English, a 1971 TV series[1] a 1976 Swedish pornographic version, starring Harry Reems and also known as For Men Only,[2] which had the tagline "Harry Reems' Last Adult Film",[3] a 2005 French/Belgian version made for television, starring Sagamore Stévenin,[4] and the 2012 version, Bel Ami, with Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci and Holliday Grainger.

Stage version

Directed by Pavel Khek, a stage version of the story premiered on 11 April 2008 in City Theatre, Mladá Boleslav. The Czech title is Miláček, with Petr Mikeska in the title role of Georges Duroy.

In July 2011, Bel Ami: The Musical was staged at the White Bear Theatre, London. It premiered on July 12. Produced by Ruby In The Dust, it was written and directed by Linnie Reedman, with the music and lyrics composed by Joe Evans.

In February 2014, a contemporary musical adaptation of the book entitled Bel-Ami will be staged at the Charing Cross Theatre, London, starring the third year musical theatre students of the London College of Music. With book, music and lyrics written by Alex Loveless, the show will have a limited run.

References

  1. ↑ Bel Ami (1971 TV version) at the Internet Movie Database
  2. ↑
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Bel Ami (2005 version) at the Internet Movie Database

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Books
Short stories
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.