Literature Review
Betrand is born of rape and from a young age exhibits some strange physical characteristics like hairy palms, connected eyebrows and a lack of wit that holds him back from his peers. He is constantly ridiculed and picked on as he grows up and one day succumbs to a rage that he not only can’t remember clearly the next day, he believes what he can recall to have been a dream. It begins with the taste of blood, then graves are disturbed, and eventually the body count begins to mount as his uncle and caretaker realizes something is terribly wrong with the boy. A wolf hunt ensues with no real success, traditional weapons seem useless, and soon the wolf is shot by (Uncle) Aymar with a silver bullet. The body of the wolf is not recovered, and the next day Aymar digs his silver bullet out of the leg of young Bertrand. Bertrand learns he’s able to keep the wolf at bay by partaking of the blood of his willing young lover Sophie, but he soon loses himself in Paris amidst the turmoil of civil war and moves toward his fate.
One of the most interesting facets of the novel is the character of Aymar and his love/hate relationship with Betrand. Aymar muses multiple times by the end that yes, Bertrand is a monster. Yes, he kills those around him, but Betrand’s sins are nothing compared to the death toll humanity inflicts on itself daily, especially during the conflict Paris is currently undergoing. Is Betrand really that bad? The internal struggles by both Aymar and Bertrand serve to highlight how we abhor certain things but accept much, much worse as par for the course in life.
It does not take Aymar long to realize that something is decidedly wrong with his young charge; in fact, Caillet is a werewolf, who loves nothing more than leaping out of his bedroom window at night and killing livestock and assorted wayfarers around the countryside. Years later, as a young man, Caillet runs away to Paris, to continue his depredations in a more populous arena, but at a most inauspicious time: right in the midst of the Franco-Prussian War, and right before the incredible violence of the Paris Commune of 1871.
But this novel is so much more than a simple tale of horror, although there are many grisly scenes. Endore (whose real name was Harry Relis) views his werewolf not as a monster, but rather as a sympathetic victim. Although Bertrand commits some truly horrible acts — killing his best friend, committing incest with his mother, despoiling graves, murdering countless creatures, draining his wealthy Jewish girlfriend (a neurotic, self-destructive, death-obsessed girl who today would probably be a Goth) slowly of her life’s blood — the author makes it clear that the atrocities going on around him (e.g., the 20,000 Parisians killed by the Versaillists during the Commune) make his sins seem small indeed. Presciently, the author says that future wars will kill millions, a prediction sadly borne out just a decade after this book’s release.
Significance of the Study
In The Werewolf of Paris by Guy Endore, we are transported to 19th century France, where we meet Bertrand Caillet, a young man who discovers the horrifying truth about his lineage. His mother, a prostitute, was raped by a werewolf, and he is the product of this monstrous union. Bertrand’s life is filled with struggle and suffering, not just from the outside world, but from his own inner turmoil as he grapples with his dual nature.
Endore paints a vivid picture of the political and social unrest in France during this time, intertwining Bertrand’s personal struggles with the larger issues of the day. The werewolf is a metaphor for the primal, untamed forces that lurk within us all, and Bertrand’s internal battle with his bestial nature mirrors the external turmoil of a nation on the brink of revolution.
Unleashing the Beast
As the story progresses, Bertrand’s inner werewolf is unleashed with increasing frequency, leading to a string of brutal murders. His actions draw the attention of the authorities and the public, and he becomes a notorious figure, feared and reviled by all. Despite his best efforts, Bertrand cannot control his animalistic urges, and the line between man and beast begins to blur.
Endore uses Bertrand’s transformation into a werewolf as a metaphor for the dehumanizing effects of war, political upheaval, and social injustice. Bertrand, a victim of his circumstances, is pushed further and further into his bestial nature by the brutal world around him, mirroring the descent of society into chaos.
Love and Loss
Amidst this backdrop of violence and bloodshed, Bertrand falls in love with Sophie, a young woman who is drawn to him despite his monstrous reputation. Their love offers Bertrand a glimmer of hope, a chance at redemption. However, his werewolf instincts eventually drive him to kill her, shattering his last hope of salvation and pushing him even further into despair.
Endore’s portrayal of Bertrand’s doomed love affair is a poignant exploration of the destructive power of the werewolf’s curse. Despite his best intentions, Bertrand cannot escape his true nature, and his attempts at normalcy only lead to more pain and suffering.
The Final Transformation
As the story nears its end, Bertrand is captured and sentenced to death. In a final act of defiance, he embraces his werewolf nature completely, refusing to beg for mercy or show any remorse for his crimes. On the night of his execution, Bertrand transforms into a werewolf and escapes, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake.
In the end, The Werewolf of Paris is a tragic tale of a man torn apart by the conflicting forces within him, a victim of his own nature and the cruel world around him. Endore’s powerful narrative and vivid imagery leave a lasting impression, forcing us to confront the darker aspects of our own humanity.