LES VINGT SOUS DU BON DIEU

L’INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

“Les vingt sous du bon Dieu” Is a poem published by François Coppée in 1872. He’s a French poet
and playwright. Coppée was born in Paris, France and he came from a very humble background. His
family struggled financially and his experiences with poverty and hardship greatly influenced his
writing which often focused on the lives of the working class and the poor. Hence, I’d say that’s the
brain behind the poem itself. The poem tells the story of a poor child who receives a twenty-cent
coin from a priest as a gift, and how this small act of kindness brings hope and joy to the child's life.

SETTINGS: The setting up the poem was during the harsh winter period in the 19 th century.

Summary of the poem;

A poor child, shivering with cold and hunger, meets a priest who gives him twenty cents. The child is
overjoyed, feeling seen and valued. He buys a warm loaf of bread and feels a sense of hope and
happiness. The poem concludes with the child's gratitude and the priest's kindness, highlighting the
transformative power of small acts of generosity.

"Les Vingt Sous du Bon Dieu" (The Twenty Cents of the Good Lord) using a feminist approach

Gender Roles and Stereotypes: The poem reinforces traditional gender roles, depicting the priest (a
male figure) as the provider and the child (gender unknown, but likely assumed male) as the
recipient.

The child's vulnerability and dependence on the priest perpetuate the stereotype of women and
children as helpless and in need of male support.

Patriarchal Power Dynamics: The priest's charity reinforces his power and authority over the child,
highlighting the patriarchal structure of society. The child's gratitude and submission to the priest
perpetuate the power imbalance.

Economic Dependence and Oppression: The child's poverty and reliance on the priest's charity
illustrate the economic dependence of women and children on men.

The poem critiques the systemic oppression of women and children, trapped in poverty and
dependence.

Gendered Experience and Perspective: The poem's focus on the child's experience and emotions
highlights the gendered nature of poverty and vulnerability. The child's voice and perspective,
though limited, offer a glimpse into the gendered experience of oppression.

Resistance and Empowerment: The child's hope and joy, though fleeting, suggest the possibility of
resistance and empowerment. The poem can be seen as a call to action, highlighting the need to
address the systemic oppression of women and children.

By applying a feminist lens, we can see how the poem critiques the gender roles, power dynamics,
and economic structures that perpetuate the oppression of women and children.