Felicite and Her Parrot, Loulou

"He was called Loulou. His body was green, his head blue, the tips of his wings were pink and his breast was golden" (chapter IV). How short, quick, and to the point. Flaubert does not add any frills or ruffles to the description of Loulou. He describes Loulou with simplicity, and does not go any further concerning his apearance. Yes, he goes more in depth with his personality, however he does so discreetly. I think that Flaubert is also describing Felicite with the parrot. How simple he is, how much character he has. However, the difference is that Felicite's character is swayed by the ideas of others, whereas toward the Parrot's, only impressions can be made.

The parrot Loulou had such a huge impact on Felicite's life, you would think that she would be overcome with sadness when he died, or at least longing for him to be alive again. However, she gets him stuffed. How odd is that? That is like getting your pet dog stuffed after he dies! Yet Felicite seems happy and content with her stuffed parrot, as much as she had been with her live one. "Every morning when she awoke, she saw him in the dim light of dawn and recalled bygone days and the smallest details of insignificant actions, without any sense of bitterness or grief" (chapter IV).

Felicite's adoration of the parrot goes so far, that she compares him to the Holy Ghost. This comparisson soon turns into a realization that the Holy Ghost and her parrot look quite the same. This develops into a belief that her parrot is the Holy Ghost, or at least one of the descendants. This shows how little Felicite's knowledge and understanding is for something that she takes so seriously, and is such a huge part of her life. She was taught wrong, and explained wrong what the Holy Ghost is. The Holy Ghost is, in fact, not a dove. It is the presence of God amongst people, to guide, comfort, and stay with people throughout their lives. She did not understand something that had made such an impact on her life. "She looked at him in despair and implored the Holy Ghost, and it was this way that she contracted the idolatrous habit of saying her prayers kneeling in front of the bird" (chapter IV).