Viper in the Fist: A Summary of the Novel
Viper in the Fist: A Summary
The Belle Angers and BVII
A letter from Marcel, the youngest brother, reveals the latest news from the Belle Angers estate. Folcoche has hired a new tutor, even more severe than the previous ones, and discovered the children’s hidden provisions. The return home promises to be terrible.
The children return to the Belle Angers and immediately nickname their new tutor, Abbot Wheatear, “BVII.” He begins by whipping Frede for the provisions found in his room. But Brasse-Bouillon, the rebellious protagonist, comforts his older brother and cleverly manipulates Folcoche into believing the tutor has been lenient. He then whispers to the tutor that his mother treats him like a servant, ultimately securing an amnesty for Frede from their father.
Civil War and Escalation
Jean becomes Folcoche’s primary scapegoat, enduring constant humiliation and reprisals. This marks the beginning of the “civil war.” Folcoche serves terribly salty soups and tears her son’s clothes, accusing him of negligence. Brasse-Bouillon retaliates by destroying Folcoche’s stamp collection and watering her flowers with bleach. To escape their treacherous mother’s piety, the brothers create mischief in churches, disrupting services and vandalizing the walls.
The conflict escalates to a “food war.” Folcoche feeds the children rotten fish and accuses them of attempting to poison the horses. This inspires the children to poison their mother’s coffee with belladonna. However, Folcoche’s frequent use of the drug during her illness results in only a mild colic. Undeterred, the children attempt to drown her in the river, but she miraculously survives.
Escape and Refuge
Folcoche, realizing she has twice escaped death, seeks revenge. She orders Abbot Wheatear to whip Brasse-Bouillon, whom she suspects is the ringleader. He barricades himself in his room and escapes during the night.
Brasse-Bouillon reaches Paris and stays with his maternal grandparents, the Pluvignecs. He is impressed by the senator’s lavish lifestyle in Auteuil but also disturbed by his vanity. Mr. Pluvignec, amused by his grandson’s audacity, promises to reconcile the child with his family.
Jean’s father, Mr. Rezeau, arrives in Paris to retrieve his son. To Jean’s surprise, he expresses no anger, only embarrassment. Jean almost wishes it were Folcoche who had come; despite his hatred for her, she would at least exert authority and firmness.
Return and Transformation
Brasse-Bouillon returns with his father to the Belle Angers. The atmosphere is one of indifference. He finds refuge in the highest branches of a tree on the property, where he analyzes the new situation. He realizes his fight against Folcoche has changed. His adolescent boldness, assertiveness, and sense of provocation now impress Folcoche. He dreams of being excluded from the family soon.
Anniversary and Disillusionment
Work resumes at the Belle Angers, but an upcoming anniversary disrupts the routine. It is the twenty-fifth anniversary of Rene Rezeau’s election to the French Academy. Jacques Rezeau plans a grand ceremony to celebrate the octogenarian. The day of the feast involves a tedious three-hour speech, during which Jacques Rezeau extols the values of the bourgeoisie and family. Jean finds the ceremony outdated and inappropriate. His hatred for his family now extends to his entire lineage and the bourgeoisie as a whole.
Desire and Departure
Brasse-Bouillon and Folcoche maintain a strained truce. Jean, now fifteen, begins to desire women. He sets his sights on Madeleine, a young farmer. One summer Sunday, he seduces her under the watchful eye of Frede, who ensures their success.
Jean enjoys his conquest for several weeks but quickly becomes irritated by Madeleine’s displays of tenderness. He cannot trust women to be different from his mother.
Folcoche, aware of Brasse-Bouillon’s desire to leave, plans to frame him by hiding his wallet in his room. Jean anticipates the trap and sees his mother leaving his room. He returns the “forgotten” wallet. The confrontation is averted because they ultimately share the same goal: Jean’s departure for boarding school. He and his brothers eventually leave for a Jesuit school in Le Mans.
Lasting Impact
Jean prevents Madeleine from seeing him off and mocks her sadness, causing her to burst into tears.
The three boys leave the Belle Angers, leaving behind a definitive hatred between Folcoche and Jean. This animosity shapes Jean’s personality forever. He loses trust in everyone and everything. He leaves the Belle Angers with “a viper in his hand.”