How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Her daughter's absence was very painful at first. But three times a week she would receive a letter from her, and on the other days she would write to her. She would also walk in her garden, or read a little, and in this way she filled the long, empty hours. (3.15)
Félicité isn't the only one who suffers in "A Simple Heart." Madame Aubain herself is a widow, and lost a lot of her family's property after her husband's death. But the separation from her sickly daughter, Virginie, really gets her down. Rich or poor, everyone has their burdens in this story.
Quote #5
The prospect of such a long absence saddened Félicité. She decided to bid him a proper farewell.
[. . .]
Walking back past the roadside cross, Félicité decided to commend to God what she cherished the most. She stood there for a long time, looking up at the sky and praying, her face bathed in tears.
(3.24-28)
The difference between Félicité's suffering over Victor and Madame Aubain's suffering over Virginie is that Madame Aubain has all day to wander around missing her daughter, while Félicité has to finish her work before she's allowed to feel anything. She has to cry over her nephew's departure in the middle of the night.
Quote #6
Although used to being treated harshly, Félicité was indignant at Madame, then forgot about it. (3.39)
What a sad way to start a sentence. Félicité, whose name means happiness (like, really), is accustomed to being abused, basically. But this one time, her constant and subtle suffering is interrupted by an especially mean gesture by Madame Aubain. It's like adding fuel to an already burning fire.