In each of three short stories—"Herodias," "The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitator," and "A Simple Heart"—Gustave Flaubert studies the nature of humanity and spirituality with his characteristically sharp eye. A loyal servant dies alone, having served her masters all her life without complaining of the tragic losses she suffered; a young man sanctified at birth is driven by bloodlust to inadvertently fulfill the curse placed on him; and John the Baptist endures his life mixed with curses and blessings. Through them all, Flaubert emphasizes the significance of humility in the face of lasting glory.