Faith

The theme of faith is most prominent in Adrienne’s section. Neither Beatrice nor Adrienne demonstrate much interest in believing in God. For Adrienne, faith is a large part of her identity. Madame Simon asks Marthe to create artworks of Adrienne for the chateau to demonstrate that it is a dutiful Catholic institution (27-29). At first, Marthe thinks that Adrienne is just another stuffy historical figure, but she soon learns that there is more than meets the eye.

On the first page of Adrienne’s introduction in the novel, she recalls questions that she asked as a child: “Why must we go to church services? Why do we not see, feel, and touch God, if he exists? Why would a good God allow evil things to happen?” (30). This memory allows the reader to glimpse Adrienne’s inquisitive personality. This contrasts how she is portrayed throughout history...