n the paper to get gossip about the prominent figures in the town. Ironically, Georges was the head of the gossip column. Society turned to his column for the daily gossip about their peers, and he turned to them for the substance of the paper. Throughout the novel, Bel-Ami, we see just how Victorian France was fairly corrupt, just as our own society. Maupassant’s use of symbols helps to relay his feelings on the world he lived in, without offending his peers. Some instances are clearer than others, but the book is teeming with symbolism.After reading Bel-Ami, I have gained a new insight on French literature. There once was a time when I would cringe at the thought of a French novel, but now I accept them with a profound respect....
