"Pretty Friends" is a film that struck me deeply, showing the darkness and corruption of French society at the end of the 19th century, and the success of a shameless man. The author, Maupassant, with his sharp strokes and satirical techniques, exposed all kinds of ugliness in the press and political circles, and made me think deeply about the humanity and morality of that era.
The protagonist of *, Duroy, is a junior officer who has retired from the army, who has no talent and capital, only a handsome face. With this face, he took advantage of a series of women, from a poor journalist, step by step to the top of society, becoming the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, aristocrats, parliamentarians, and even hopefully cabinet ministers. His success was based entirely on deception, collusion, intrigue and betrayal, and he did not hesitate to sacrifice his own feelings and dignity and that of others in pursuit of money and status. He is a typical bourgeois adventurer, a villain without a soul and a conscience.
The other characters in * are also reflections of the dark side of society. Walter, the owner of the newspaper, is a greedy and shameless capitalist who uses the newspaper as a tool for political and economic struggle, manipulating, spreading lies, and profiteering for himself.
He did not hesitate to sell his daughter Susan to Duroy, just to preserve his position and interests. His wife is a half-aged who fell in love with Duroy at first sight and became his **. She was abandoned by Duroy after his success, but she also had to endure the shame of being his mother-in-law. She was a poor and pathetic woman.
Duroy's first wife, Madeleine, was an intelligent and beautiful woman who was once the widow of Duroy's best friend, Frestier. She helped Duroy build an extensive network in the press and taught him how to please women. She says she loves Durois, but she has an affair with another man. She is an assertive and capable strong woman, but she also has her own vanities and desires. She ends up being blackmailed and divorced by Durois, losing everything. She was an excellent and tragic woman.
The woman Duroy loved most was Madame de Maraire, a wealthy and faithful noblewoman. She unreservedly gave her feelings and money to Duroy, and even endured her husband's beating and scolding for him. She is an innocent and kind woman, but she is deceived and abandoned twice by Duroy. She didn't get anything in return and happiness, only endless sadness and disappointment. She is a lovely and poor woman.
The end of * does not give Duroy a chance to punish or reflect, but allows him to continue to indulge in his own success and happiness. This is the author's greatest satire on society and the greatest challenge to the reader. The author does not give a moral judgment, but let us think and reflect on ourselves, why such a person appears in such a society, and what kind of consequences such a person will bring to society. "Pretty Friends" is a profound and wonderful film, which made me feel the talent and emotions of the author, and also made me understand the society and culture of that era.
Biography of Maupassant
Maupassant was a well-known French writer whose works were known for their wit, satire and critique of social reality. Maupassant, whose original name was Guy de Maupassant, was born on August 5, 1850 in Normandy, France, to a declining aristocratic family. He fought in the Franco-Prussian War, which became an important theme in his later work. He was guided and influenced by Flaubert and other writers, and began to engage in literary creation. During his lifetime, he wrote six novels**, 359 short stories** and three travelogues, making him one of the most numerous and accomplished writers in the history of French literature.
Maupassant's representative works include "The Necklace", "Pretty Friends", "Ball of Sheep Fat" and "My Uncle Hule". With humor and irony, he depicts all strata and characters in French society at the end of the 19th century, showing his deep insight and sharp criticism of human nature, society, history and culture. His language is strong, clear, fluent, and full of local flavor, which makes people love it. His ** is cleverly conceived, and the ending is unexpected, leaving a deep impression on the reader.
Maupassant's influence on later generations is huge, and he is known as the "king of the world's short stories" in modern literature, and is known as the "world's three great short story masters" along with Chekhov and O. Henry in the United States. His works have been translated into many languages and have had a wide impact around the world. He also made important contributions to Chinese literature, and modern Chinese writers such as Lu Xun, Mao Dun, and Lao She have translated or imitated his works, and have drawn inspiration and techniques from them.