This is the first work by Guy de Maupassant that I've read, but it certainly won't be the last. In just this short amount of space he's made me feel so much rage and indignation on the behalf of a prostitute, Boule de Suif. She is the only character with honor, even though in society's eyes she is the least virtuous of everyone. 'Virtuous' people of status and privilege use Boule de Suif for their own selfish purposes, then throw her to the wolves for doing the very thing they wanted her to do. I feel Maupassant was saying three things especially;

1) A woman's virtue is something to be traded at the convenience of society. This same transaction is also the means by which society can shun a woman.
2) Patriotism and resistance are spoken of with great enthusiasm, but when things become inconvenient people are quick to make moral compromises.
3) Virtue is not a condition of class, it is a condition of the heart.

These are all things which were probably more groundbreaking in 19th century France than they are today. Nonetheless, I appreciate what this story reveals about human nature and do wonder if we've changed very much at all despite 'knowing better'.