Georges Duroy, the main character of the novel "Darling Friend": a characteristic

Georges Duroy. Who is it?

Most likely, you know his name - the name of a charming and depraved adventurer, a life-buzzing and unscrupulous seducer; The name of a poor retired military man, striving to break out into people and reached his impudent, impudent goal. This is a dear friend, Georges Duroy, whose name is a symbol of self-interested seducer and voluptuous ambitious.

Did such a person really live? Georges Duroy - the main character of the novel by the French writer Guy de Maupassant "Dear Friend". And although this is a fictional character, one can only imagine how many prototypes and prototypes he had, not to mention imitators and followers.

What did the French writer want to show with his priceless work? What is remarkable about Georges Duroy's character in the novel "Darling Friend"? And can you find an excuse for his disgraceful actions and actions? Let's try to figure it out.

Social problems of the novel

The events in "Dear Friend" take readers to France, during the Third Republic. What is the focus of the society of that time?

Most people have lost their spiritual core. They see happiness and well-being only in money and noble birth. If you are a nobleman, you can do anything. And if you are rich - you can do the impossible. Unfortunately, this principle is also followed by Georges Duroy - the hero of the novel "Darling Friend".

The surrounding people dictate their conditions to him. Society, corrupted by wealth, loses its moral face and forgets about conscience. Women, both rich and poor, sell themselves in order to acquire wealth and luxury. Men look at the opposite sex only from an egotistical point of view. Mothers and fathers are ready to sacrifice the happiness of their children, in order to strengthen personal material and financial affairs.

To all this, secular society suffers from a lack of any moral or moral principles. The carnal love is driven by most of the aristocracy, for them the satisfaction of their physical desires and pleasures is at the forefront of all worries and concerns. Marriage of adultery, brothels and promiscuous sexual relations no longer surprise or puzzle anyone.

People live only to please their bodily desires, disregarding the opinion of moral canons and the happiness of those around them. The same attitude toward morality has Duroy.

Moral

Georges Duroy (in French - Zhorzh Dyurua) appears from the very first pages of the novel before the readers as a model of an insatiable and dissolute swagger. For him, a woman is not a person who needs to be loved and taken care of, but an object of his greedy lust, which must be used as soon as possible for his own purposes. By the way, most women with whom Duroy communicates themselves go this slippery path and want to be used.

The sensual, animal revelry to which Georges Duroy gives himself up is the satisfaction of his paramount need (along with the needs for food and clothing), so the protagonist does not feel remorse for walking about his own lust.

Without hesitation, he uses his base passions to get out of poverty and wretchedness. He shamelessly plays women, looking at them as a means of their own enrichment and climbing the social ladder.

A little understanding of the social issues of the novel, let us now briefly get acquainted with its content. This will help us see the image of the protagonist from within, in his actions and relationships with other characters.

Description of Duroy

Georges Duroy - a charming young man, his graceful figure and a beautiful face, he can like and cause admiration. He is the offspring of poor peasants, trying to get out into the light in any way.

The protagonist is ambitious and double-minded, seductive and beautiful. However, through his appearance, he can not achieve prosperity and universal acceptance.

In addition to a pretty face, Duroy no longer has anything - he has no mind, no talents, no connections and, naturally, no money. However, there is a great desire to have them.

old friend

So, the main character works for a pittance and dreams about the best, wandering around Paris unfamiliar to him. He is hot and stuffy, and he has no means even for a glass of beer. However, he is still, without regret and tired, wanders through the streets of the city in search of an opportunity. What is this case? Was she meeting a rich stranger?

Whatever it was, but wealthy ladies do not pay attention to the poorly dressed person. What can not you say about poor and disadvantaged courtesans. One of them - Rachelle, loses his head from a charming provincial and gives it almost free, prompting in his soul the desire to fascinate and use women in love with him.

Duroy is still waiting for the opportunity to get acquainted with the wealthy aristocrat, but meets only ... the old comrade. This meeting radically changes the life and future of the protagonist.

Charles Forestier - a former colleague of Georges for Algeria. However, life in the capital went to his advantage - he povpoll, acquired a fashionable profession of a journalist, got money. Charles treats Duroy with a mug of beer and invites him to his social dinner in order to impress the right people.

It is evident that the main character does not feel any friendly feelings towards Forestier. The concept of partnership is alien to him, but he understands that a prosperous journalist can be useful to him.

Dinner

At the invited party, Georges tries to please all the participants of the celebration, and he succeeds. He kisses a small Lorina, and then the girl's mother, Clotilde de Marelle, gets sympathetic towards him. Duroy impresses the wife of Forestier, Madeleine, as well as the wealthy owner of the newspaper Walter and his wife.

From the first time the main character gets his way: Walter makes him an order for an essay on the soldier's life, Madeleine selflessly composes the story in his stead, the essay is approved by the editor and published. Georges was also given a new assignment, however ...

Pen Samples

He does not have a talent for writing. Forestier refused to help Duroy, he wrote his essay with his own strength, but the newspaper rejects it. Pomuchavshis, George decides to become a reporter, not a writer. In this case, not talent is needed, but perseverance, charm and arrogance.

As a reporter, the main character conquers the position of Walter and begins to earn a considerable amount of money. He rotates in the higher circles, he manages to live better and richer. But still…

It is not only Duroy's income that grows, but also his desires. A young man can not remain in the shadow of rich and noble acquaintances. He himself wants to live in luxury and veneration, with a chic dress and eat expensive dishes.

Constant mistress

What should a pretty quirky reporter do to achieve his goal? He decides to find an additional source of income - Madame de Marel.

Young woman - effective bright brunette. She rarely sees her husband and is always bored. In Duroy, Clotilde is reflected by herself. She is as risky as he is, as artistic and desperate.

Relations with Georges begin with a shallow, subtle intrigue, but end in a burning, all-consuming passion, which is destined to last the life of the main characters. Madame de Marel dives headlong into carnal pleasures, giving herself to the new feeling. She rented an apartment to meet with a fiery lover, giving him small but significant sums.

Realizing that the Beloved friend has other women, Clotilde is very angry and jealous, but at the same time forgives Duroy again and again. She can not imagine life without this charming adventurer, becomes his slave and servant.

Using the money and gifts of a mistress, a young man does not feel a twinge of conscience or regret. He pretends that he takes her credit, but realizes that she will never return it.

Relations with Madeleine

Interesting and multifaceted relationship between Georges and the wife of his friend Forestier. Going to take revenge on the former combat comrade, Duroy tries to seduce his wife. However, she immediately discovered the unknown young reporter and offered him ... friendship. And even advised to try to conquer the heart of Mrs. Walter.

However, soon Madlena's husband dies, and a pretty widow marries Duroy. Their marriage is not a union of two lovers, but an agreement between two adventurers who are trying to improve their social status. Madeleine comes up with a title for her husband, writes articles for him, gets an honorary order from his lover. She is a real support and a war friend who knows how to seduce and shine in a secular society, giving thoughtful, wise advice.

The marriage of Madlena and Georges is a model of a typical secular marriage of the time, based not on feelings and tenderness, but on the mind and mutual benefit.

Virginia Walter

However, Georges Duroy is not satisfied with a joint life with Madeleine, no matter what kind of gold mountains she did not promise. He needs everything at once, he does not want to save wealth slowly and gradually.

This can help Duroy other women. Initially, the main character seduces Mrs. Walter - an aging god-fearing lady, the wife of her boss and patron. As you can see, the main character does not have any frames of propriety, feelings of gratitude or subordination.

Virginia is not easily given a fall - it struggles with itself for a long time, hesitates and worries for a long time. And, finally, he yields to persistent persuasion of Georges and becomes his mistress. She betrays her husband, telling her Dear friend about his mysterious plans, she earns him money and jewelry.

But the relationship with a mature woman is not interesting to the unscrupulous Duroy. He quickly loses interest in his passion and, despite her protests and jealousies, continues to visit Clotilde.

Second marriage

How does Duroy become rich and independent? The young man decides to marry again, but this time choose a bride with a large and impressive dowry. George's choice falls on Suzanne Walter - a stupid and innocent eighteen-year-old beauty.

Duroy rigidly achieves a divorce from Madeleine and takes away half her fortune from her, without feeling a single conscience before the one who has done so much for his well-being!

Then the main character cynically seduces the daughter of his former mistress Virginia, thereby forcing the parents to consent to this dishonorable marriage.

Finally, the young man's wish came true - he took a few million dowries. Now he will not feel any heat, no stuffiness, and will never feel thirsty for beer. But will he be happy?

Impact

As we see, the image of Georges Duroy is very complex and multifaceted. It engenders a storm of negative emotions and contempt, and yet evokes sympathy and sympathy. After Georges Duroy - this is only a consequence of the spiritual disintegration of the whole nation, moral decay and moral corruption of the whole society.

It is noteworthy that the type of protagonist does not leave anyone indifferent. He is judged and interpreted a lot, he is set as an example and is accused.

It is interesting that the character of the Beloved friend found its reflection in modern music. Who was impressed by the shamelessness and impudence with which Georges Duroy became famous? "Chizh" (Sergey Chigrakov) in his song song mentioned the name of the main character of the novel along with drunkards, drug addicts and unrecognized talents.