The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard" explores the intricacies of human relationships through its major characters, centering on the life of Sylvestre Bonnard, a reclusive philologist. Bonnard, a bachelor, finds fulfillment in the lives of others, notably in his friendships with a poor widow and her daughter, Jeanne, who is connected to his past love, Clementine. Despite leading a life largely devoted to books, Bonnard’s kindness and generosity resonate through his interactions, as seen when he helps the struggling bookseller M. Coccoz and later assists Jeanne and her husband with their new life.
The narrative also introduces a cast of supporting characters, including the wealthy Prince Trépof, who reciprocates Bonnard's earlier kindness, and the slippery Signor Polizzi, who connects Bonnard to the elusive manuscript, the Golden Legend. Bonnard’s role as a guardian to Jeanne further highlights his deepening involvement in the lives of those around him. The relationships and developments in the story reveal themes of compassion, loss, and the bonds formed through shared struggles and kindness. Overall, the character dynamics serve to illustrate the profound impact of human connections across different social strata.
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Anatole France
First published: Le crime de Sylvestre Bonnard, 1881 (English translation, 1890)
Genre: Novel
Locale: France
Plot: Domestic
Time: Nineteenth century
Sylvestre Bonnard (seel-VEHS-tr voh-NAHR), a shy philologist who has a penchant for getting involved in other people's lives. A bachelor, Bonnard befriends a poor widow and, later, an orphan girl who is the daughter of Clementine, Bonnard's love in his youth. He lives a good life among books and is happy in his late years because a young couple he has helped return his affection.
M. Coccoz (koh-KOHZ), a poverty-stricken bookseller from whom Bonnard buys no books. Out of compassion for the poor man and his wife and child, he sends logs to their attic room to keep them warm. Coccoz soon dies, leaving his wife and child to face the world alone. His beautiful widow eventually marries Prince Trépof, a wealthy Russian.
Prince Trépof (tray-POHF) and Princess Trépof, who had married after M. Coccoz's death. The prince, inordinately wealthy, travels the world expanding his matchbox collection. Princess Trépof, remembering the kindness Bonnard had shown her and her first husband, obtains for Bonnard the Golden Legend, a manuscript he had given up hope of ever owning.
Jeanne Alexandre (zhahn ah-lehk-SAHN-dr), the shy daughter of Clementine, Bonnard's early love. She is befriended by Bonnard; when she marries, he sells his library, except for a single volume, to provide money to give the young couple a start in life.
Signor Polizzi (poh-lee-ZEE), a slippery jack-of-all-trades who owns the manuscript of the Golden Legend. Polizzi allows Bonnard to travel from Paris to the Polizzi place in Sicily to read the manuscript. Arriving there, Bonnard discovers that the manuscript had already been sent to the Paris bookstore of Polizzi's son.
M. de Gabry (gah-BREE) and Mme de Gabry, a couple who invite Bonnard to their country estate to catalog their extensive library. While there, Bonnard discovers Jeanne and learns that she is the de Gabrys' ward.
Henri Gélis (ahn-REE zhay-LEES), a student who, while receiving help for his thesis from Bonnard, falls in love with Jeanne, who is now Bonnard's ward. They marry and have a baby, Sylvestre, who dies. Bonnard knows, however, that since they are young, they will eventually raise a family.
Maître Mouche (MEH-tr moosh), Jeanne's guardian while she is the de Gabrys' ward. When Mouche disappears after embezzling some money, Bonnard becomes Jeanne's legal guardian.
Mlle Préfère (pray-FEHR), Jeanne's teacher in the select school the girl attends. At first, Mlle Préfère has hopes of marrying Bonnard. When her affection is not returned, however, she grows hostile toward him.
Thérèse (tay-REHZ), Bonnard's maid, whose firm hand keeps her master's domestic affairs in order.