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Characters

Princesse, “Seeing Things Simply”

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Characters Princesse, “Seeing Things Simply”

Princesse is modest, but she has a strong sense of self-confidence. She is unfazed by the advances of the drunk watching the cockfights and even humors him when he flirts with her. She thinks Catherine paints her because she’s willing to be naked and not because she’s particularly beautiful, but this doesn’t bother her. Princesse admires Catherine and her sophistication, but she can also be childlike and playful. She fears negative attention and won’t drink the rum Catherine offers her, but she doesn’t believe in society’s standards of propriety. Eventually, however, she feels daring enough to drink a little rum. Princesse is fascinated by the world and excited to learn about it. Though Princesse’s standard of living is probably not much better than that of the protagonists in the other stories, she notices the beauty around her and wants to capture it. She is willing to dedicate herself entirely to art, as she shows when she “draws” on her undershirt with her own blood. Princesse is ambitious and inspired, and Catherine’s painting of her makes her feel special for her part in its creation.

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