A Passion in the Desert by Honoré de Balzac
"A Passion in the Desert" by Honoré de Balzac is a short story that explores themes of survival, affection, and the complexities of human-animal relationships. Set against the backdrop of the Egyptian desert during Napoleon's campaign, the narrative follows a soldier who, in a desperate attempt to evade capture, seeks refuge in a cave. There, he unexpectedly encounters a female panther, leading to a tense yet evolving bond between the two. Initially driven by fear, the soldier's interactions with the panther take on a more intimate and erotic tone, as he attempts to tame her through affection.
As time passes, their relationship deepens, characterized by moments of tenderness, with the soldier referring to the panther using endearing terms reminiscent of his first love. This unusual companionship culminates in a tragic turn when the soldier, misreading a moment of perceived danger, fatally wounds the panther. The story concludes with the soldier’s profound regret, as he reflects on his misunderstanding of the creature’s intentions. Balzac's tale raises questions about the nature of passion and connection, challenging the boundaries between fear and love in human and animal interactions.
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A Passion in the Desert by Honoré de Balzac
First published: "Une Passion dans le désert," 1832 (English translation, 1874)
Type of plot: Psychological
Time of work: The late 1790's
Locale: An Egyptian desert
Principal Characters:
The narrator His woman friend The soldier , whose experiences are narrated to the womanThe panther , the object of the soldier's passionMr. Martin , an animal tamer
The Story
The narrator and his woman friend are leaving a wild animal show. The woman wonders aloud how Mr. Martin, the animal tamer, is able to perform tricks with dangerous wild animals. The narrator, who has learned of Mr. Martin's secrets from a soldier, suggests that he can explain the mystery, but hesitates to do so verbally. He finally concedes, after much begging and solicitation, to write the solution out for her. The next day, he sends her a strange story about a soldier from Napoleon's invading army, who is fleeing from his Egyptian captors, searching for his regiment in the Egyptian desert. He stumbles into a cave to take refuge for the night. When a female panther returns to this cave after hunting, she snuggles up next to the sleeping soldier and prevents him from leaving as he had planned. Afraid that the panther will eventually kill him, the soldier thinks only of preempting its attack or of escaping.
After spending several days together, the soldier and the panther develop a mutual, erotically charged, affection. The soldier, for example, shows his amorous feelings by referring to the panther as his mistress and by calling her "Darling"—the nickname of his first lover. The soldier also caresses the panther, at one point causing her tail to stand voluptuously erect. Quickly understanding the positive effect of these caresses on the panther's temperament, the soldier redoubles his efforts until he is sure that her passions are completely sated, leaving him safe in her presence. The soldier can be assured of his success because as he finishes his caressing, the panther returns her affection and lets loose an orgasmic sound described as one of those purrs by which cats express pleasure.
Eventually, this imaginary love affair ends violently. The soldier plunges his dagger into the panther's neck when he suspects that she is about to devour him. The mortally wounded animal rolls on the ground, crying plaintively to the soldier; curiously, she shows no sign of hostility or vengeance. The soldier realizes he must have misinterpreted the panther's intentions, and he expresses his most profound sorrow.